Y o u a r e a n u n l i m i t e d B e i n g . Y o u a l w a y s w e r e a n d y o u a l w a y s w i l l b e , y o u h a v e n o choice in that. Your only choice is to identify with your unlimited Beingness, or to i d e n t i f y w i t h y o u r s e l f i m p o s e d l i m i t a t i o n s .

Lester Levenson

KEYS TO THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM

Thoughts and Talks On Personal Transformation By Lester Levenson

Edited with a foreword by George Cappannelli

Dedicated to those who seek freedom with Special Thanks

To Frances Adams for her loving assistance to Lester in compiling and preserving the original material for this book. Without her this book would not have been possible. To Terry Britt and Dee Sell for their long hours in helping to prepare the manuscript. To the staff and instructors of the Sedona Institute for all they do in assisting others in discovering the value of releasing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6 Session 7 Session 8 Session 9 Session 10 Session 11 Session 12 Session 13 Session 14 Session 15 Session 16 Session 17 Session 18 Session 19 Session 20 Session 21 Session 22 Session 23 Session 24 Session 25 Session 26 Session 27 Session 28 Session 29 Session 30 Session 31 Session 32 Session 33 Session 34 Session 35 Session 36

Foreward About the Author The Basic Goal and Ways to Attainment Problems and How They Resolve Spiritual Growth Happiness Love Realization Love, Giving and the Christ Consciousness Ego Mastering Mind and Matter The Mind Meditation and the Quest Desire What Am I? The Key to Constant Happiness The Body Responsibility Gurus and Masters Helping Others More on Helping Others Healing Attitude and Action The World A Perfect Body Growth Can Be Every Day Family Relations Worldliness vs. Spirituality About Love Karma Growth and Receptivity The Quiet Meditative State of Beingness Meditation The Game Realization Through Dropping the Unconscious Why Not Go All the Way? The Self - Your Self Thou Art That

iii vi 1 5 12 22 28 36 42 46 54 59 68 73 79 84 88 95 102 110 113 118 125 134 143 148 153 159 164 169 175 181 187 195 200 206 216 228

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FOREWORD We a r e u n l i mi t e db e i n g s l i mi t e do n l y b y t h e c o n c e p t s o f l i mi t a t i o nw e h o l di no u r mi n d s . With these few words, Lester Levenson, the founder of the Sedona Institute and originator of the R e l e a s e T e c h n i q u e h a s g i v e n u s a v e r y p o w e r f u l k e y t o a s s i s t u s i n l e t t i n g g o o f t h a t w h i c h p r e v e n t s us from leading the kind of loving, successful, joyful lives we want. Just 16 words and yet they contain both a concise description of the obstacle which stands between us and the realization of our dreams and a clear prescription for its removal as well. This is no small accomplishment. In this complicated, mad paced world where we are constantly bombarded by information and deluged by an endless number of techniques which promise to eliminate everything from flat feet to dandruff, it is rare to find statements as clear, practical and e f f e c t i v e a s L e s t e r s . R a r e a n d e f f e c t i v e a r e t w o w o r d s w h i c h a l s o d e s c r i b e t h e p o w e r f u l a n d p r a c t i c a l wisdom Lester shares with us in these private talks; wisdom which helps us better understand ourselves and achieve happiness in our lives. Above all, this wisdom is given to us in the form of specific tools which have been hewn out of the direct, personal experiences of the man who shares them with us. I n d e e d , o f t h e m a n y v a l u a b l e t h i n g s a b o u t t h i s m a t e r i a l , t h i s t h i n g s t a n d s o u t m o s t p r o m i n e n t l y what Lester Levenson talks about, he knows. And he knows it not just from years of study in t r a d i t i o n a l a c a d e m i c d i s c i p l i n e s , a l t h o u g h h e h a s s p e n t a m p l e t i m e t h e r e . I n s t e a d , L e s t e r s w o r d s c o m e from his heart and from a wisdom borne out of first-hand experience. Just a few moments spent with him will convince you of this. Lester Levenson has met and mastered his own dragons. On the verge of dying in 1952, he was forced to go outside the boundaries of traditional medicine, religion and philosophy to examine and discover a way to sustain his life and to renew his health. On the way to doing this, Lester made a number of significant discoveries. As a result, in just two short months, he went from being an avowed cynic and a non-believer, to a committed advocate of the unlimited power of consciousness and a faithful servant of that deep and abiding sense of unity and oneness which connects all things in Beingness and Love. Lester also uncovered what he believes is the dominant desire which drives us to seek for some elusive state or condition which we believe or sense exists beyond the cycles of pleasure and pain, s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t s e e mo u r u s u a l l o t . L e s t e r d e s c r i b e s t h i s e l u s i v e s t a t e a s a state of happiness with no sorrow. Lester is of course not alone in this belief. Even a cursory review of the wisdom offered us by other sages and poets, mystics and teachers from both past and the present, uncovers ideas which resonate with this common theme: T . S . E l i o t i n T h e F o u r Q u a r t e t s , s u g g e s t s t h a t We s h a l l n o t c e a s e f r o me x p l o r a t i o n , A n d t h e e n d of all of our exploring, Will be to arrive where we started, And know the place for the first time... Q u i c k n o w , h e r e n o w , h e s a y s , a l w a y s . . . Ac o n d i t i o n o f c o m p l e t e s i m p l i c i t y ( c o s t i n g n o t l e s s t h a n e v e r y t h i n g ) . In the writings of Depak Chopra, contemporary author, physician and healer, we find the following s u g g e s t i o n : E v e r y s i n g l e h u m a n b e i n g h a s a n a s p e c t o f h i m s e l f w h i c h i s a n o n m a t e r i a l f i e l d o f h i g h e r i n t e l l i g e n c e a w i n d o wt o a m o r e u n i v e r s a l f i e l d o f i n f i n i t e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . . . a n d w h e n w e g e t i n t o u c h with this aspect, we find that it has a computing ability which is far more precise, far more accurate, far m o r e o r d e r l y t h a n t h a t w h i c h e x i s t s i n t h e r e a l mo f r a t i o n a l t h o u g h t . L o a T z u b e g i n s t h e t h i r d p h r a s e o f T a o T e C h i n g b y s u g g e s t i n g H e n c e a l w a y s r i d y o u r s e l f o f desires in order to observe its secrets; But always allow yourself to have desired in order to observe its manifestations. These two are the same but diverge as they issue forth. Being the same they are called m y s t e r i e s , My s t e r y u p o n m y s t e r y T h e g a t e w a y o f t h e m a n i f o l d s e c r e t s . A n d t h e P e r s i a n P o e t R u m i , w h o h a s s a i d i t b e a u t i f u l l y i n s o m a n y d i f f e r e n t w a y s , t e l l s u s t h i s 0 , Y o u m y s o u l s c o m f o r t i n t h i s s e a s o n o f s o r r o w , 0 , Y o u m y s p i r i t s t r e a s u r e i n t h e b i t t e r n e s s o f l o s s !
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Wh a t c a n t b e c o n c e i v e d n o r u n d e r s t o o d , E n t e r s m y s o u l w h e n I w o r s h i p Y o u . I f w e r e t u r n o u r a t t e n t i o n t o L e s t e r s q u o t e , w e f i n d t h a t i t h a s m o r e t o o f f e r u s . We a r e u n l i mi t e d beings limited only by the concepts of limitation we hold in our mind. So stop being what you a r e n o t , a l i mi t e db o d y a n dmi n d , a n dj u s t b e w h a t y o ua r e a ni n f i n i t e , t o t a l l y f r e e , g r a n da n d f l o w i n g b e i n g , w h o l e a n dc o mp l e t e . S o w h a t i s t h i s s t a t e o f c o m p l e t e s i m p l i c i t y c o s t i n g n o t l e s s t h a n e v e r y t h i n g t h i s w i n d o wt o a f i e l d o f i n f i n i t e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h i s g r a n d a n d f l o w i n g b e i n g , w h o l e a n d c o m p l e t e ?E v e n m o r e r e l e v a n t , H o wd o w e g e t t h e r e ? This is precisely what these private sessions by Lester are designed to assist us in doing. They speak to the part of us that is all too familiar with the restlessness and dissatisfaction of human existence. They speak to the part that understands that beyond the wounds of childhood confusions or abuses, the disappointments of failed relationships, unhappy marriages, or the loss of loved ones; beyond the pain of illnesses and physical limitations, and the disappointment of careers that do not fulfill our purpose, t h e r e i s a s t a t e o f h a p p i n e s s w i t h n o s o r r o w . L e s t e r s w o r d s a l s o a d d r e s s a n o t h e r p r i m a r y d i l e m m a . T h e d i l e m m a o f k n o w i n g o r , a t t i m e s , sensing what to do, but not being able or willing to do it. Although confronted daily by disappointments; although sensing and occasionally even experiencing the grace of relief, most of us continue to remain victimized by our thoughts and the illusions of mind and emotion which keep us prisoners in a world seemingly not of our making. This is no small dilemma. It surfaces some of the most fundamental and critical questions of our lives and to answer them, we must get beyond the limitations that Lester speaks so eloquently and c l e a r l y o f a n d d i s c o v e r o u r t r u e n a t u r e . We m u s t m o v e o u t s i d e o f w h a t D e p a k C h o p r a c a l l s a f e a r b a s e d , t i m e b o u n d r e a l i t y t o f i n d a s t a t e o f b a l a n c e , h a r m o n y a n d h a p p i n e s s . Before sending you on to explore this rich territory with Lester, there are a few suggestions which may help you on your journey. Each of the talks you are about to read is designed to bring a key theme into your awareness. Each also represents not only thoughts for your mind to digest, but more importantly, energy for your whole being to absorb. Because of this, Lester recommends that you not hurdle your way through them. Instead, read them slowly, allowing enough time for reflection and integration. In short, approach this material as you would a private talk with a good friend. Approach it with an open heart and mind and allow it to deliver its gifts to you. Above all, by working slowly with this material you will give yourself the opportunity to practice many of the powerful and practical tools it contains. If you do this honestly and persistently, you will give yourself a gift of inestimable value. You will discover for yourself a direct link to the source of your own wisdom. You will, as L e s t e r s o o f t e n s a y s , c o m e t o k n o wt h a t y o u k n o w . A n d t h i s , a f t e r a l l , i s t h e u l t i m a t e g o a l o f a n y t r u e teaching. Finally, it is important for you to know that these sessions are designed to give you a great deal more than a different intellectual perspective on the human condition. For as our guide says repeatedly i n t h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s , t h i n k i n g w i l l n o t g e t y o u t h e r e . I n s t e a d , t h i s m a t e r i a l , t h e q u e s t i o n s a n d answers, the aphorisms, and the suggested exercises are all intended as an introduction to a remarkable, experiential process that is as simple, as clear and as powerful as the words themselves. This process is c a l l e d t h e R e l e a s e T e c h n i q u e , a n d i t i s , q u i t e s i m p l y p u t , a v e r y d i r e c t , e a s y t o u s e w a y t o e l i m i n a t e the boundaries of thoughts, feelings, emotions and wants which stand between you and self-realization. So after you have spent time in these sessions, I encourage you to turn to the material in Appendix A and introduce yourself to this innovative, transformation technique which Lester discovered on his journey to personal realization. Through it I believe you will discover a key to achieving the quality of life and consciousness you seek. And I know that through a loving and committed practice of it you will experience that unlimited, joyous and powerful state of being that is our natural right and our natural state.
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I wish you a remarkable and joyful adventure. George Cappannelli Executive Director The Sedona Institute

About the Author I v e s p e n t m o s t o f m y a d u l t l i f e l o o k i n g f o r t h e u l t i m a t e t r u t h a n d h a p p i n e s s . I t r i e d m a n y t h i n g s b o t h f r o mt h e E a s t a n d t h e We s t b u t a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g c o m e s c l o s e t o t h e s i m p l e a n d p o w e r f u l teachings of Lester Levenson. I met Lester back in 1976 at a seminar I helped organize for a noted organization. I was i m m e d i a t e l y s t r u c k b y L e s t e r s p r e s e n c e . H e w a s v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o ma n y o n e I h a d e v e r m e t o n t h e spiritual path. He was peaceful and loving with an air of absolute humility and equality. From first h a n d e x p e r i e n c e , h e h a d d i s c o v e r e d t h e u l t i m a t e t r u t h . H e w a s n t l i k e a l l t h e o t h e r s w h o w e r e j u s t a little ahead of me, still striving to get there. It was a big relief, I felt like I had come home. I knew immediately that working with Lester and his teachings were the reason I had come to be born in this life. I have never wavered from this realization, nor have I ever regretted it. My life and my own inner peace have continued to flower ever since then. The simple yet powerful truths and techniques that he expounds have left no part of me or my life unchanged for the better. When I first met Lester, he told me a little about his life and his realizations. What follows is as close as I can come to reproducing history the way he told it. I w a s b o r n J u l y 1 9 , 1 9 0 9 i n E l i z a b e t h , N e wJ e r s e y , i n t o a m i d d l e c l a s s f a m i l y a s a v e r y s h y p e r s o n . I t r i e d t o d o t h i n g s t h e w a y t h e y w e r e s u p p o s e d t o h e d o n e d o i n g t h e r i g h t t h i n g , getting a good education, and being the best in my field. My natural inclination was towards science, especially the science of the world, and of man himself. I graduated from Rutgers University in 1931 as a physicist, after which I worked 20 some years in physics and engineering. In physics, I worked in research and development on measuring instruments and automatic control, connected with Brown Instrument Co., which later became a subsidiary of Honeywell. And in the engineering field, I worked as a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, a construction engineer, a heating and venting engineer, and a marine engineer. Actually, 14 different fields. I also went into various businesses, including restaurants, lumber, building and oil, i n t e r t w i n e d w i t h e n g i n e e r i n g , w a n t i n g t o m a k e m o n e y w a n t i n g t o m a k e i t i n t h e w o r l d . A t t h a t t i m e , I d i d n o t k n o ww h a t I n o wk n o w t h a t w h a t I w a s s e e k i n g w a s a c t u a l l y t h e a n s w e r s t o l i f e itself. Nothing that I had worked at would give me that answer, and as the years went by, I became heavy with depression and with sickness. By 1952, I had been through constant illness I e v e n h a d j a u n d i c e t h r e e o r s o t i m e s a y e a r . I h a d a n e n l a r g e d l i v e r , k i d n e y s t o n e s , s p l e e n trouble, hyper and hypos acidity, ulcers that perforated and formed lesions, and to top it off, I had at least 10 years of migraine headaches. This all culminated in 1952 when I had my second coronary thrombosis. A f t e r t h e s e c o n d c o r o n a r y , I w a s t o l d I w o u l d n o t l i v e m u c h l o n g e r t h a t I m i g h t d i e a n y d a y a n d s h o u l d n t m a k e t h e e f f o r t t o t a k e s o m u c h a s a s t e p u n l e s s I n e c e s s a r i l y h a d t o . I w a s e x t r e m e l y f e a r f u l o f d y i n g , b u t I s a i d t o m y s e l f , Y o u r e s t i l l b r e a t h i n g , L e s t e r t h e r e i s s t i l l a c h a n c e . S o I s a t d o w n a n d b e g a n t h i n k i n g o n a n a r o u n d t h e c l o c k b a s i s . I h a d b e e n considered a very smart boy. I always made the honor roll. I had been the recipient of a four year scholarship to Rutgers back in the days when not many scholarships were handed out. But t h e n b e i n g t o l d a f t e r m y s e c o n d h e a r t a t t a c k t h a t I w o u l d n t l i v e , I s a i d t o m y s e l f , L e s t e r , y o u a r e s t u p i d , s t u p i d , s t u p i d . H a v i n g l i v e d 4 2 o r s o y e a r s , a n d h a v i n g r e a c h e d t h e e n d o f t h e l i n e w i t h o u t h a p p i n e s s , w i t h o u t h e a l t h t h e r e f o r e a l l t h i s k n o w l e d g e y o u h a v e a c c u m u l a t e d i s o f n o a v a i l . I h a d s t u d i e d Wa t s o n s b e h a v i o r i s mi n t h e 3 0 ' s a n d F r e u d s i n t h e l a t e 3 0 ' s a n d e a r l y 4 0 ' s . I had studied the philosophies. I had studied logic. I studied economics. I studied all the major fields of man, and with all that knowledge there, I was at the end of the line. This made me
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realize that the accumulated knowledge of man was of no use. So I decided to start from scratch. Forget all that knowledge. Begin from point zero and see w h a t y o u c a n p i c k u p . S o , I p o s e d t h e q u e s t i o n , Wh a t a mI ? Wh a t i s t h i s Wo r l d ? Wh a t i s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ? Wh a t i s Mi n d ? Wh a t i s I n t e l l i g e n c e ? Wh a t i s H a p p i n e s s ? I b e g a n b y a s k i n g m y s e l f , Wh a t d o I w a n t o u t o f l i f e ? . . . a n d t h e a n s w e r w a s h a p p i n e s s . Investigating further, I went into the moment when I was feeling happiest. I discovered something which to me was startling at the time. It was when I was loving that I was happiest. That happiness equated to my capacity to love rather than to being loved. That was a starting point. I began correcting all my thoughts and feelings in that direction from that of wanting to be loved, to that of loving. And in that process, I discovered another major thing that kind of shocked me. I saw that I wanted to change this entire world, and that was the cause of my ulcers o r o n e o f t h e m a j o r c a u s e s . I n r e a l i z i n g h o wm u c h I w a n t e d t o c h a n g e t h i n g s i n t h i s w o r l d , I saw how it made me a slave of this world, I made the decision to reverse that. And in the process o f f o l l o w i n g o u t t h e s e t w o d i r e c t i o n s a c t u a l l y u n l o a d i n g a l l t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s c o n c e p t s a n d p r e s s u r e s i n t h o s e d i r e c t i o n s I d i s c o v e r e d I w a s g e t t i n g h a p p i e r , f r e e r , l i g h t e r , a n d f e e l i n g better in general. As I saw this direction was good, I made the decision that if a slice of pie tasted this good, I wanted the whole pie. And I decided not to let go of this direction until I got that entire pie of h a p p i n e s s , a n d w i t h i t t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI ?Wh a t i s t h i s l i f e , a n d w h a t i s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ? T h i s d e c i s i o n a l l o w e d m e , a s I c l a i m , t o g e t t h e a n s w e r t o l i f e i t s e l f i n a m a t t e r o f o n l y t h r e e m o n t h s . I b e l i e v e i f I c a n d o i t , a n y o n e c a n d o i t i f t h e y h a v e t h a t m u c h w a n t t o . In that three month period, all the ailments I had in my physical body corrected. All my miseries dropped away. And I ended up in a place in which I was happy all the time, without s o r r o w . N o t t h a t t h e w o r l d s t o p p e d p u s h i n g a g a i n s t m e i t c o n t i n u e d b u t I w a s a t a p l a c e where I could resolve things almost immediately. Having cleared out the negative fears, all the n e g a t i v e I c a n n o t s , I w o u l d f o c u s r i g h t o n t h e a n s w e r t o e v e r y p r o b l e m , a n d g e t i t v e r y quickly. And so, my whole life turned around from being depressed and sick, to being happy all the time, and being in perfect health all the time. One of the things that happened in this process was my identification with others. I saw that w e a r e a l l r e l a t e d , w e a r e a l l i n t e r c o n n e c t e d e a c h m i n d i s l i k e a r a d i o b r o a d c a s t i n g a n d r e c e i v i n g s t a t i o n ; t h a t w e a r e a l l t u n e d i n t o e a c h o t h e r u n c o n s c i o u s l y t h a t w e a r e j u s t n o t aware of it. As a lot of the suppressed energies are allowed out, this becomes obvious to us and once we identify with everyone else, it is just natural that we want everyone else to discover what we have discovered. That life was meant to be beautiful... meant to be happy all the time with no sorrow. And to be with perfect health. And so after reaching that high point of understanding in 1 9 5 2 , I h a v e w a n t e d t o h e l p o t h e r s t o d i s c o v e r w h a t I h a d d i s c o v e r e d .

Hale Dworkin Director of Training The Sedona Institute

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 I f w e c o u l d o n l y b e , j u s t b e , w e c o u l d s e e o u r i n f i n i t y . We c o u l d s e e t h a t w e a r e t h e a l l . Lester Levenson
Session 1 THE BASIC GOAL AND WAYS TO ATTAINMENT THE SEARCH Everyone is looking for the same thing. All beings, even the animals, are looking for it. And this thing that everyone is looking for is happiness with no sorrow. A continuous state of happiness with n o t a i n t w h a t s o e v e r o f s o r r o w . We c a n c a l l t h i s a s t a t e o f B e i n g n e s s . Why is this the Goal? Because imperturbable happiness is our basic nature! And what is imperturbable happiness? Complete and total freedom, the freedom to do or not to do anything and everything. This is our natural state, the state which exists before we encumber it with limitations. If this is so, why then do most of us not have this continuous happiness with no sorrow? There is o n l y o n e r e a s o n . We h a v e d o n e a w a y w i t h t h i s h a p p i n e s s b y t h i n k i n g , I a ma n i n d i v i d u a l , s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l , a n d i n t h i s w a y a s i n f i n i t e b e i n g s , w e h a v e a s s u m e d l i m i t a t i o n . T o m a k e o u r s e l v e s s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l , w e m u s t h a v e a m e a n s t o a c c o m p l i s h t h i s s e p a r a t i o n and the means is the mind. And using the mind we create our bodies and the external world. We then get caught up in our own creation and begin searching for the All in the external world, and in the process, create more and more thoughts and more and more matter, until we are so involved in the thoughts and matter that we forget our real identity as the infinite Beingness. T h i s o r i g i n a l t h o u g h t t h a t I a ms e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l , n e c e s s a r i l y c r e a t e s a f e e l i n g o f l a c k a n d loneliness, for I can only be satisfied when I am the All. Seeking fulfillment of desire in the world therefore cannot undo the lack since the lack is not in the world in the first place. Lack is a creation of the mind. And yet we go on and on trying to satisfy desire externally. But of course, we never, never succeed. For if we could succeed, we would be able to satisfy desire and therefore all desire would disappear! The real purpose of being here on this earth then is to learn, or to remember our original natural s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s a s t a t e w h i c h a l l o w s i m p e r t u r b a b l e h a p p i n e s s , c o m p l e t e w i t h c o m p l e t e f r e e d o m and no limitation. Once we are led to see that this is our natural state, then we can begin to let go of all the limitations. T h e p r i m e a n d t h e v e r y f i r s t l i m i t a t i o n i s t h e f e e l i n g , I a ma n i n d i v i d u a l s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l . Eliminate that and you eliminate all loneliness, all limitation. T o s a y t h i s a n o t h e r w a y , G o d i s a l l !L e t g o a n d l e t G o d b e . I t i s n o t I b u t t h e F a t h e r w h o w o r k e t h t h r o u g h m e . We m u s t l e t g o o f t h e e g o s e n s e , w h i c h i s t h e o r i g i n a l s e n s e o f o u r s e p a r a t i o n f r o mt h e All, and allow our natural Being to just be, and then everything will fall perfectly into line. However, even after this idea is accepted, we do not find it easy to accomplish. We do not find it easy because of habits that have been established since the beginning of time. And for some reason we like these habits, and so we continue them. We call them subconsciously directed behavior. And we go on and on and on behaving automatically, as though we are a victim of our subconscious mind. Now the subconscious or unconscious mind is really that part of the mind that we have the most trouble looking at! But when our desire for freedom is strong enough, we will dig up these subconscious habits, look at them, and begin to let go of them.

NATURAL BEING Many people in many spiritual and transformational disciplines believe they must work hard to a c h i e v e b e i n g n e s s , b u t t h e r e i s n o g r o w i n g i n t o t h e n a t u r a l B e i n g t h a t y o u a r e . T h a t B e i n g i s w h o l e and perfect, here and now. There is only letting go of the concepts of limitation. The belief that you h a v e l i m i t a t i o n s t h a t y o u h a v e t r o u b l e s i s i n y o u r m i n d a n d o n l y i n y o u r m i n d . T h a t i s t h e o n l y place where trouble is, because you can not see or conceive of anything anywhere else but in your mind. Whatever you look at, whatever you hear, whatever you sense, is in and through your mind. That is where everything is. Therefore, if you change your thinkingness, you change your world. Do this and you will have the proof! So the way to freedom, the path itself, is really quite simple. What is not so simple is the method of undoing the limitations and the reason it is not is because of the force of habit. To overcome this habit, we need a very strong desire. Without a strong desire, there is no growth. This desire, in fact, must be stronger than the desire to control the external world or to have its approval.

THE WORLD AS A DREAM The world as you now see it is really a product of your imagination and when you see the Truth, the world turns out to be a dream, a fiction created in your mind. First, you will see it as a dream, then you will see it as a dream that never really was. In fact, you will experience it exactly as you do a night dream. While you are in the night dream, you have a body, there are other bodies, there is action, interaction, there is good and there is bad. And so long as you remain in that night dream, everything t h e r e s e e m s r e a l t o y o u . B u t w h e n y o u a w a k e n f r o mt h e n i g h t d r e a m , y o u s a y , My g o s h , i t w a s j u s t a d r e a m !I t n e v e r r e a l l y h a p p e n e d !I t w a s a l l a d r e a m ! T h i s i s e x a c t l y t h e s a m e m a n n e r i n w h i c h y o u will awaken from this dream called the waking state. You will come to see that it was only a creation of your imagination, only a dream; and then you will let go of it lock, stock, and barrel, and what you will be left with is the infinite you! Then you will call yourself fully realized, totally free. Actually, we are fully realized all the time. That is part of the irony. We are fully realized Beings s a y i n g t h a t w e a r e n o t . S o a l l w e h a v e t o d o i s l e t g o o f w e a r e n o t a n d w h a t i s l e f t o v e r i s t h e f u l l y realized and free Being that we are.

THE BEST METHOD Do you have any questions on what I have said so far? Stop a moment and reflect on what has been said. Perhaps you understand this intellectually, but are unable to use it. If this is the case, you may not be looking at yourself honestly, truthfully, or with a deep enough desire to let go of your limitations. You may have set up in your subconscious mind all the things you will not look at, and allowed them to culminate in inhibitive and compulsive feelings. If this is so, it may be necessary that you release all the inhibitive and compulsive feelings. You are now run by them. You are now the victim of them. By releasing them, your mind quiets and you become free. Therefore, undo these limiting feelings and thoughts, quiet the mind, and this infinite Being that you are becomes self-obvious to you. Then you will see that you never were subjected to that mind, that body, and from that moment on, the mind and body will have no influence upon you. You then determine for the body as you would a puppet, and it has no more effect upon you, any
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more than a puppet would. So, the very best method of all methods is to quiet the mind by releasing all subconscious feelings and thoughts, all feelings of wanting approval, wanting control and wanting security. And what is left is the Being that you are.

THE FINAL QUESTION T h e f i n a l q u e s t i o n t h a t e v e r y o n e m u s t a n s w e r i s a l s o s i m p l e Wh a t a mI ? S o m y q u e s t i o n t o y o u i s , Wh y n o t b e g i n w i t h t h e f i n a l q u e s t i o n ? I f y o u c o u l d , i t w o u l d b e a l l g o o d , a l l w o n d e r f u l . B u t t h e r e a r e v e r y f e wo f u s w h o a r e c a p a b l e o f j u s t h o l d i n g o n t o Wh a t a mI ? We h a v e g o t t e n o u r s e l v e s so habituated with subconscious thoughts and feelings that we cannot let go of them, and therefore, we need other methods, other aids. Other major methods from the East are called Juana Yoga, Raja or Oriya Yoga, Shakti Yoga, Karma Yoga. The path that is best for you is the one that you like best. Each path includes all the other paths. The only difference is the emphasis. If we are intellectual, we emphasize the Juana path, the path of intellect and wisdom. If we are of devotional nature, we emphasize the Shakti path of love and devotion to God. If we like to be of service to mankind, we use the Karma Yoga path. Each path leads to the quieting of the mind, enough so that we may see the infinite Being that we are. Since all of the above paths aim to achieve the quieting of the mind, however, why not go directly to the mind itself? It is more direct and practical, and the most efficient of all methods. In fact, if we go directly to the mind, we will discover that it is simply the totality of all our thoughts, conscious and subconscious, and that all of these past thoughts on particular things have culminated into feelings. These feelings, in turn, now motivate additional thoughts. So, if our t h o u g h t s a r e m o t i v a t e d b y o u r f e e l i n g s , a l l w e n e e d t o d o t o r e m e m b e r o u r i n f i n i t e b e i n g n e s s i s t o release our feelings, the motivators of the thoughts. Then our mind will be quiet and when the mind is q u i e t e d , t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t w e a r e b e c o m e s s e l f o b v i o u s . S i m p l e , i s n t i t ?

THE WORLD WE CREATE Let us now take a look at this apparency called the world. As we have discussed, the world is only our mental creation. It is not external, but is a reality within us, within our mind. Some day you will discover this. Creation begins by first creating what we call a mind, which is a composite of all our thoughts and feelings, conscious and subconscious. Then through this mind we create our world. In fact every little thing that happens to each and every one of us we create first in our minds. We mentally create this thing called time which makes it even more difficult to see the creation process because we think now, and the effect of that thought happens much later. But the only creator there is, is mind, your mind. Is God a creator? Yes, because you are. Thou are That! You set up a mind and through the mind create. It is necessary and good to discover that everything happening to us is caused by our feeling and thinking. Everything that happens to us is created first in our thought, and when you discover this, you discover that you create your trouble as well. And then you realize that if this is so, then you can create anything you desire, and you will begin to create only good things. Still, even when you discover that there is nothing that you cannot create, you are still not satisfied. The reason is that you have separated yourself from your Infinite Beingness, your oneness, and only on recognizing and being your Infinite Beingness are you perfectly satisfied.
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So, if there are any problems that remain, they only remain because you are holding on to them in y o u r t h o u g h t . T h e m o m e n t y o u l e t g o o f t h e m , t h e y a r e g o n e !I f y o u t e l l m e t h a t i s n t s o f o r y o u , I t e l l y o u i t i s . T h e t r u t h i s y o u a r e s t i l l h o l d i n g o n t o t h e p r o b l e ma n d t e l l i n g m e t h a t i t d o e s n t w o r k . You see, trying to get rid of a problem is holding on to it. Anything we try to get rid of we are h o l d i n g i n m i n d a n d t h e r e b y s u s t a i n i n g . S o t h e o n l y w a y t o c o r r e c t a p r o b l e mi s t o l e t g o o f i t . D o n t focus on the problem, focus only on what you want. From this moment on, if you would only see what you want, that is all that you would get. But you hold in mind the things you do not want. You s t r u g g l e t o e l i m i n a t e t h e s e t h i n g s y o u d o n t w a n t , a n d t h e r e b y s u s t a i n t h e m . T h i s m e a n s t h a t i t i s necessary to let go of the negative and focus on the positive if you want a positive, happy life.

THE RIDDLE Although I have been talking about this subject in intellectual terms, this subject cannot be learned intellectually. Although you have been using your mind to understand it, it cannot be learned in the mind. Truth, you see, is perceived just behind the mind. We can use the mind to release what is occupying the mind so that by getting it quieter, we can see behind the mind. If it were possible to get this subject through the mind intellectually, all we would need to do is to read the books on it and we w o u l d h a v e i t . B u t i t d o e s n t w o r k t h a t w a y . We h a v e t o v e r y c o n c e n t r a t e d l y s e e k o u r S e l f t h a t i s j u s t behind the mind. Turn the mind back upon the mind to release the mind, and then you may go beyond the mind to your Self. To understand this, each of us must experience it, realize it, make it our own by going to the place just behind the mind and perceiving it there, and then we will know. Then we will know that we know. Then we operate intuitively, from the realm of all-knowingness. N o wa s I v e s a i d , t h e v e r y h i g h e s t s t a t e i s s i m p l y B e i n g n e s s , a n d i f w e c o u l d o n l y b e , j u s t b e , w e could see our Infinity. We could see that we are the All. We could be in a perfectly satiated, permanent, changeless state. And this state is not a nothingness, it is not a boredom, it is an Allness, an Everythingness, a Total Satiation that is eternal. And as you come to this experience, you will come to know that you will never, never lose your i n d i v i d u a l i t y . T h e f e e l i n g I a s y o u u s e i t t o m e a n y o u r i n d i v i d u a l i t y w i l l n e v e r e v e r l e a v e y o u . I t expands. What happens as you discover what you are is that you begin to see that others are you, that you are them, that you and I are one, that there is only One, and that you are now and always have been that one and glorious Infinite Being. ***

 I f w e d o n t l i k e w h a t s h a p p e n i n g t o u s i n t h e w o r l d , a l l w e h a v e t o d o i s c h a n g e o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d t h e w o r l d o u t t h e r e c h a n g e s f o r u s ! Lester Levenson
Session 2 PROBLEMS AND HOW THEY RESOLVE THE ILLUSION We seem to have greater, more intense problems than ever before. This applies to all in general, not anyone in particular. And this intensification of problems makes it appear as though we are going h a c k w a r d s b u t t h i s i s n t t h e c a s e . T h e f a c t i s w e h a v e r i s e n t o t h e s t a t e w h e r e w e c a n b e t t e r e x p r e s s ourselves outwardly, and so we express our problems out in the world rather than holding them dormant in the subconscious mind. As a result, things may appear to be getting worse. C o n v e r s e l y , w h e n w e a r e a p a t h e t i c , i t s d i f f i c u l t f o r u s t o e x p r e s s a n d i t s d i f f i c u l t f o r u s t o outwardly act. So our problems may seem less, but the truth is they are only hidden. They swirl a r o u n d i n o u r s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d a s a r e s u l t , d o n t c o m e o u t a n d m a t e r i a l i z e i n t h e w o r l d . T h i s makes these seem better, but in reality, it makes finding solutions impossible.

STAGES OF GROWTH When we begin to move a step above this apathetic state, as we begin to acquire more capability of action in the world, then our problems begin to manifest outwardly in the world. As I have said, at first t h i s m a k e s i t s e e ma s t h o u g h t h e w o r l d i s f a l l i n g i n o n u s . B u t i t s a c t u a l l y a s i g n o f g r o w t h , a s i g n t h a t we are moving up from the apathetic state into the beginnings of the doingness state. I call this the State of Apathetic-Doingness because when we come into this apathetic-doingness, we begin to do with apathetic, agitated tendencies. Of course when we are in this state, we become outwardly or expressively destructive to the world and to ourselves. But it is important to remember that apatheticdoingness is higher than apathetic non-doingness. Now, the step above apathetic-doingness is one of doingness in which we are equally constructive and destructive. Move up another step, and we move into the doingness-beingness state where we are b i g d o e r s a n d o n l y c o n s t r u c t i v e . Wh e n w e s t e p u p f r o mt h e r e , w e g o i n t o t h e b e i n g n e s s s t a t e w e d o n o t h a v e t o d o , w e j u s t b e . The foregoing stages of growth are set out in the following chart.

STAGES OF GROWTH Stage 1. Apathy: Inaction, due to apathy, with resentments and hostilities, and fear to express for fear of retaliation. A subjectively destructive state. INACTION Stage 2. Apathetic-doingness: Beginnings of action, having enough will to express outwardly. A beginning of an outwardly active but destructive state.
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Stage 3.

Doingness: Action that moves us out of Stage 1 toward the equilibrium of Stage 5. Here one is equally constructive and destructive to oneself and to the world. ACTION

Stage 4.

Doingness-beingness: Energetic doingness with calmness; much outward action, all constructive to oneself, the world and the universe.

Stage 5.

Beingness: Inaction, due to serenity; the ability to just be; witnessing, watching, allowing and accepting the world and universe as it is. INACTION

T h e w o r l d t o d a y i s i n a l o ws t a t e o f A p a t h e t i c D o i n g n e s s ( S t a g e 2 ) . I t s a m a t e r i a l i s t i c a g e . A b o u t 1700 A.D., we came out of the lowest state, a period predominantly marked by physical, animal sensuality. This was a state wherein we lived principally to satisfy our appetites. We are now in the second period where we can enjoy the finer, more cultural things. But we are still having the growing pains of getting out of the first into the second. The second is, however still not a highly spiritual state. It is the period where, in the world, we advance scientifically. The third period begins The Era of Knowing. This is a mental world and in it, we are all related. We will be more loving to one another and we will stop fighting each other. The fourth period is the state which will be one in which we will know fully our beingness in God a n d e v e r y o n e s b e i n g n e s s i s G o d . We w i l l k n o wo u r s e l v e s a s f r e e , u n l i m i t e d b e i n g s . T h e s e f o u r periods are the Iron, Bronze, Silver and Golden Ages the ancient Greeks spoke of. The fifth stage is really beyond this world although accomplished in this world. However, at any time, whenever anyone chooses, he may move into the highest state. We do not have to stay at the level that the world is in, and those of us who are on the path are moving up out of this general level. This makes us very fortunate. We know the way out. No matter how much the w o r l d h u r t s u s , w e k n o wt h e r e s a w a y o u t . We h a v e h o p e a n d a d i r e c t i o n .

THE WAY OUT And what is the way out? Not looking to the world for happiness, but looking to the place where happiness is right within us, within our own consciousness. Unlimited joy and freedom is our natural, inherent state. We have, through ignorance, undone it by imposing concepts of limitations: I need this, I n e e d h i m , I n e e d h e r , a n d i f I d o n t g e t w h a t I w a n t , I a mh u r t , I h a v e t r o u b l e . Growth, on the other hand, is letting go of these concepts of lack and limitation or, on the positive side, going within and seeing this unlimited Being that we are and choosing to remain as such. Any time we have trouble, any time we have a problem, we are trying to express the Self through the limited ego, and it is too small, so we get squeezed and it hurts. S o , i f t h e r e i s a p r o b l e m , t h e t h i n g t o d o i s t o a s k y o u r s e l f , Wh a t a mI d o i n g ?Wh e r e i n a mI d e m a n d i n g w i t h e g o m o t i v a t i o n ? I f t h e a n s w e r c o m e s , i f y o u s e e h o we g o w i s e , y o u r e c a u s i n g t h i s so-called problem; you will pull the causative thought up from the subconscious into the conscious, and once it is conscious, you will naturally let go of it. I f y o u d o n t l e t g o o f i t , i t i s b e c a u s e t h e c a u s e , t h e t h o u g h t t h a t i n i t i a t e d t h e d i f f i c u l t y , r e m a i n s subconscious. So, we must make the thought conscious and let go of it or, and this is the higher and
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the better way, we must remember that we are the Self. Knowing that we are the perfect Self, that we are not this limited body and mind, all problems immediately resolve! It probably sounds quite indicting when I say that all problems, all troubles, are ego motivated. But if you investigate this for yourself, you will find that is true. When you are just your Self, there are no problems; there is only that which is perfect, harmonious, without effort. The more ego motivated you are, the more difficult it is to accomplish something, the less harmony and more misery you have.

IT IS REALLY AS SIMPLE AS THAT What is hard is letting go of the habits. What is hard is moving beyond the limits of the ego. Habits are very strong and have been deeply ingrained over thousands of years. H o w e v e r , t h e m o m e n t w e c h o o s e t o l e t g o o f t h e m , w e c a n . I f w e s a y w e c a n t l e t g o , i t s b e c a u s e w e r e a l l y d o n t w a n t t o . T h e d e s i r e t o l e t g o i s n t s t r o n g e n o u g h . Do I make this too simple? You have probably heard it presented in more complicated ways, with a lot of things added to it that make it more difficult to see. But once we see the simplicity of it, all we need to do is effect it. And no one can do it for us. We have to do it ourselves. I have a friend who has problems. She is religious and seems very pious. When things get blackest and she has no more hope and is at the bottom, at that very moment something happens so that everything turns out right. Do you know why she must reach bottom? Because she does not really have faith. She is not really pious. This is her trouble. You see, faith would cause her to let go and let God. Being pious, being humble and surrendering would cause the same thing. O u t w a r d l y , s h e s t h e w a y s h e s a y s , b u t i n w a r d l y s h e s t h e w a y I ms a y i n g . Y o u s e e , s h e t r i e s t o control everything, and that is not letting go and letting God. She prays, but she wants it the way she wants it. She has found out that her praying for it does not help her. If you surrender, you do not have to pray. She has got to let go and let God. When does she let go and let God? When she, herself, can not do anything any more, she lets go. She lets go in the extreme. And the moment she lets go, everything r e s o l v e s i t s e l f . C a n y o u s e e t h a t ?Wh e n t h i n g s r e a c h t h e e x t r e m e , s h e f e e l s O h , t h e r e s n o t h i n g I c a n d o , a n d t h a t i s w h e n s h e l e t s g o a n d l e t s G o d . If she could see this point, she would be more consciously able to use it. For Conviction, which is s t r o n g e r t h a n f a i t h , a b s o l u t e c o n v i c t i o n o f G o d t h a t w i l l d o i t !L e t g o a n d l e t G o d a n d t h e n everything straightens out. But when we try to do it, we have trouble. Wh e n I s a y , L e t g o a n d l e t G o d , w h a t d o e s t h a t m e a n ?S h o u l d y o u w o r k s t r i c t l y o n i n s p i r a t i o n , o r just sit back and let things happen? N o t e x a c t l y : We m u s t h a v e t h e f e e l i n g o f l e t t i n g t h i n g s h a p p e n . T o a c c o m p l i s h t h i s , w e h a v e t o l e t t h e e g o s e n s e g o . T h e e g o i s t h e f e e l i n g I a ma n i n d i v i d u a l , a n d I h a v e a b o d y a n d I d o t h i n g s . That is the illusion. You have to get my ego out of the way and let God or Self operate. When this is a c h i e v e d , y o u l l s o r t o f f l o a t t h r o u g h t h i n g s , a n d t h e r e w i l l b e n o e f f o r t . I f t h e r e i s e f f o r t , t h e r e i s e g o . Of course, you are going to have to use some effort, because you are not starting off as the realized Self. You see, only when this friend of mine goes to the extreme, does she let go of the sense of d o e r s h i p a n d t h i n g s h a p p e n e f f o r t l e s s l y . T h a t s l e t t i n g g o a n d l e t t i n g G o d !

HAVING DOES IT
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Professing faith, professing all these things does not do it. Having them does it. The fact that she has troubles is proof that she does not have the conviction of God because God is All, God is Perfect; and if God is All and God is Perfect, everything must be perfect, and that leaves no place for imperfection or troubles. If you take that attitude, so be it! It is the feeling that I am not the doer and that I let go and let it happen. H o wc a n w e t e l l w h e n w e r e b e i n g t h e e g o ? Wh e n t h e r e s n o e f f o r t , t h e r e s n o e g o . T h e m o r e t h e e f f o r t , t h e m o r e t h e e g o . So, when the effort is extreme, you have to more or less go the other way anyway. The more the effort, the greater the ego. However, you are going to use effort until you are fully realized. Now, there will be times when you will use no effort and everything will fall perfectly into line for you; at these times you will be your Self. Of course, some people are afraid that this type of thing makes you indolent. But, indolence is an action, a negative action. It is the act of holding oneself from moving.

THE ACTIONLESS STATE To achieve the actionless state, you begin by letting go of your ego more and more. You do this because under present conditions, you cannot do it totally. If you could, you would be fully realized. But if you keep letting go of the ego, you will eventually drop it, and then you will be the witness rather than the doer. Does this make sense? B e n o t t h e d o e r . L e t i t h a p p e n . I t s G o d s w o r l d , w h a t e v e r i s h a p p e n i n g , l e t H i md o i t ! S t i l l t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s , H o wd o w e g e t r i d o f p r o b l e m s ? F i r s t , y o u m u s t r e a l i z e t h a t t h e m o m e n t y o u s a y , I h a v e a p r o b l e m , y o u a r e s t u c k ; y o u a r e m a k i n g it real! You cannot get rid of the problem, because you are making it real. You have got it. This does n o t m e a n t h a t w h e n y o u h a v e p r o b l e m s y o u s h o u l d s a y , T h e r e i s n o p r o b l e ma t a l l , a n d t h e p r o b l e m will vanish. I f y o u s a y , T h e r e i s n o p r o b l e m , t h e y w o n t v a n i s h b e c a u s e y o u r e s a y i n g , T h e r e i s n o p r o b l e m . You are mentally holding the problem in mind and therefore sustaining it. Instead, you must erase the problem from your mind. Let it go. Know that everything is perfect; then the problem becomes necessarily non-existent. You see, life can be totally effortless. There is no effort in life whatsoever when we are being our n a t u r a l S e l f . B u t w e r e t r y i n g t o b e a l i m i t e d e g o a n d t h a t t a k e s e f f o r t . I t t a k e s e f f o r t t o b e l i m i t e d when your natural state is unlimited. The more you try to be limited, the more effort it takes. To be your unlimited Self takes no effort, just like the woman I talked about earlier. When she gets t o t h e e x t r e m e , s h e l e t s g o a n d e v e r y t h i n g s t r a i g h t e n s o u t w i t h n o e f f o r t . Wh e n s h e t r i e s a n d t r i e s , things get worse and worse. But when she gives up and lets go, things resolve. S t i l l p e o p l e a s k , D o e s n t s h e h a v e t o g o o u t a n d l o o k f o r a j o b ?D o e s n t s h e h a v e t o g o t o a n a g e n t ?S h e c a n t j u s t s i t d o w n a n d w a i t . And I say all she has to do is to let go and let God. Then, even if she has locked herself in a chamber somewhere, the things would have come to her.

LETTING GO OF DOERSHIP Y o u d o n o t s i t d o w n a n d w a i t y o u d o n o t d o a n y t h i n g . J u s t l e t g o o f t h e s e n s e o f d o e r s h i p . Y o u just know that everything is perfect and then the slightest thought you have will come into being
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q u i c k l y . T h e r e s n o l i m i t a t i o n o n G o d , o n t h e S e l f . Wh a t e v e r y o u t h i n k w i l l c o m e i n t o b e i n g i f y o u l e t go, because you are invoking your infinite power, God, your Self. Nothing can stop it! You do not have to struggle to get some action. I n f a c t , i t s j u s t t h e o p p o s i t e . L o c k y o u r s e l f i n a c h a m b e r a n d p a d l o c k i t a n d i f y o u w i l l d o w h a t I am saying, you will find that what you want will be effected. It has to be. Nothing can stop it! Omnipotence is invoked! If this is true, then what is prayer for? What does praying mean? P r a y i n g i s f o r t h o s e w h o n e e d p r a y i n g . Wh e n y o u k n o ww h a t y o u k n o w t o w h o ma r e y o u praying? If you are That, why do you have to pray to It? P r a y i n g a d m i t s d u a l i t y . I p r a y t o G o d . I n s t e a d , m a i n t a i n y o u r O n e n e s s ! However, when one does pray, it is best to pray for one thing only. Pray for more wisdom, so that you eliminate all need for any prayer, for any asking. Most people in the world today need to pray. But prayer admits duality; God is out there. And we s h o u l d k n o wt h a t G o d i s w i t h i n . E v e n t h o u g h J e s u s s a i d , T h e K i n g d o mo f G o d i s w i t h i n , w e s t i l l l o o k f o r G o d w i t h o u t , a n d H e s n o t o u t t h e r e H e s o n l y w i t h i n . H e t u r n s o u t t o b e o u r v e r y o w n Beingness. T h e I o f u s , w i t h n o t h i n g a d d e d t o i t , i s t h e G o d w e s e e k . Wh e n y o u s a y I a ms o m e t h i n g t h a t i s n t I t , t h a t i s n t G o d . B u t j u s t p u r e I a n d o n l y I , t h a t i s G o d . T h a t i s w h y i t i s s a i d t h a t G o d i s c l o s e r t h a n f l e s h . I t i s I a n d h o wc l o s e i s I ? I t s c l o s e r t h a n flesh. It is God, your very own Self! J u s t h o l d o n t o t h e w o r d I o n l y . I . . . a n d y o u l l b e c o m e m o r e e x h i l a r a t e d . T r y i t w h e n y o u r e a l o n e . J u s t I . . . a n d n o t I a ma b o d y , I a ma m i n d , b u t I . . . t h a t i s B e i n g .

BEINGNESS I t h i n k t h e w o r d t h a t d e s c r i b e s G o d b e t t e r t h a n a n y o t h e r s i n g l e w o r d i s B e i n g n e s s . G o d i s a l l Beingness. We are all Beingness pretending we are a tiny part of It, a limited body-mind. When you look within, you will see that you are all Beingness. Beingness is God! Beingness is also Awareness Consciousness. They are the same thing. Later on, y o u l l s e e t h e ma s i d e n t i c a l : B e i n g n e s s , A w a r e n e s s C o n s c i o u s n e s s . So be your Self and there never will be a problem. Seeing a problem in the world is trying to be a limited ego-body-mind. If you think you have a problem, you do. If you will just accept that God is All, God is Perfect, that that is all there is, and look at Perfection, that is all you will ever meet with! Y o u h a v e t o w i p e o u t t h e w o r d s p r o b l e m , c a n t , d o n t , w o n t , a l l n e g a t i v e w o r d s . I n t h e future when man is in a state of harmony, these words will disappear. The higher you go, the more you see the Perfection and therefore the less you see problems. The more one sees problems, the lower one is. What everyone talks about is problems. The people who see them want you to see the way they see, and will tell you that you are wrong. This is one thing you must be on guard against. As you grow, those who are not up to you will try to pull you down to where they are. Let them think you are wrong. You know you are right. Do not argue. It is fruitless. It is not how much you recognize a problem that shows unselfishness. It is how much you see that there is no problem, and help others see that there is only Perfection that shows unselfishness. This w a y y o u o f f e r h e l p ; y o u r e v e r y c o n s t r u c t i v e a n d u n s e l f i s h . Y o u j u s t f e e l l o v e y o u d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y h a v e t o d o a n y t h i n g . L o v e a n d y o u r t h o u g h t s a r e p o s i t i v e . T h o u g h t i s f a r m o r e p o w e r f u l t h a n a c t i o n . I t i s t h e b a s i s o f and effects action. It is the initiator. It comes before and determines action.
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A realized being sitting in a cave somewhere all by himself is doing more good for the world than organizations of action. He is aiding everyone, as his help is being subconsciously received by all. Now we are back to what we were talking about before: the bottom state is inaction, the middle state i s a c t i o n , t h e t o p s t a t e i s i n a c t i o n . T h e b o t t o ms t a t e i s o n e o f a p a t h e t i c i n e r t i a . I t s d e s t r u c t i v e . I t j u s t wants to stop everything, actually destroy everything. The top state lets everything be just the way it is because everything is perfect, and anyone in this state powerfully projects this mentally to everyone. The middle state is the action state which moves you from the bottom toward the top state of equilibrium and tranquility. As you move up, those who are not as far along as you are will try to pull you down to where they are. It is sort of a proving ground, or a testing, to see how much those things bother you. It tests your conviction. Where is your conviction if you go with them? If you go with them, your tendency is to believe more the way they do.

KEYS TO BEINGNESS Desire for ego approval makes it seem easier to go along with the world. You will find out o t h e r w i s e . Y o u h a v e b e e n o n e o f t h e m o b , h a v e n t y o u ?Y o u v e b e e n l i k e t h e m . I t s n o t e a s y . N o , the right way is easier. Do you see that? The right way is letting go and letting God and then e v e r y t h i n g f a l l s i n t o l i n e p e r f e c t l y n o e f f o r t . B u t w h e n y o u h a v e t o d o i t , i t i s n o t G o d i t i s y o u , the ego, wanting to do, to change things, correct this world, and so forth. Some people ask if a mantram or something like that is the best thing to remember when these things come up that way? A f f i r m a t i o n s a r e a l w a y s g o o d . Am a n t r a mi s a n a f f i r m a t i o n t h a t s r e p e a t e d a g a i n a n d a g a i n . I t i s even more effective, however, to let go of your ego reactions. So, do whatever will help you to do and be what you think you should do and be. Seek who and what you are, know your Self. This is the very best thing to do and be. There have been moments when you have let go and felt your real Self. How does it feel? You could have it all the time. S t a y t h a t w a y t h a t s a l l . B e w h a t y o u a r e !Y o u a r e i n f i n i t e , o m n i s c i e n t , o m n i p o t e n t , r i g h t h e r e a n d now. Be That! Stop being this limited, miserable, little ego. If you want to help the world the most, help yourself grow, and you will do far more than you could by being involved in the world. The more you are capable of loving, the more you are helping the world. Parliaments cannot right the world, but enough people loving can. The President of the United States must necessarily represent the sum total consciousness, the sum total thinkingness, of all the people of the United States added together. The world out there is only our collective consciousness. The principle is that divine law supersedes man-made law. Consciousness, thinkingness determine e v e r y t h i n g . S o i f w e d o n o t l i k e w h a t s h a p p e n i n g t o u s i n t h e w o r l d a l l w e h a v e t o d o i s c h a n g e o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d t h e w o r l d o u t t h e r e c h a n g e s f o r u s ! T h e r e s n o e n d t o p r o b l e m s i n t h e w o r l d . I f y o u t r y t o f i n d t h e e n d y o u g o o n a n d o n f o r e v e r a n d ever solving problems in the world and you will always find more and more. As long as you are conscious of problems, they exist. Only when you discover the real you, will you discover an end to problems. I t i s a s i f y o u p u t y o u r h a n d i n a f i r e a n d s a y , O u c h , i t s h o t !My h a n d i s b u r n i n g !B o y , d o I h a v e a p r o b l e m ! A n d t h e n p u t y o u r h a n d b a c k i n t h e f i r e a n d s o o n a n d s o o n . U n t i l o n e d a y y o u s e e t h a t y o u
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a r e d o i n g i t a n d y o u s t o p . I f y o u h a v e a p r o b l e m , y o u r e p u t t i n g y o u r h a n d i n t o a p r o b l e ma n d y e l l i n g , I t h u r t s ! a n d a c t i n g a s t h o u g h y o u r e n o t p u t t i n g y o u r h a n d i n t o i t . Y o u a c t a s t h o u g h y o u a r e n o t doing it. But you are. So that problem is in your consciousness. It is in your mind. Change your mind, change your c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d i m m e d i a t e l y t h a t p r o b l e mi s g o n e . T r y i t a n d y o u l l s e e t h a t i t s s o . And when you are by yourself, stop being what you are not, a limited body and mind, and just be w h a t y o u a r e a n i n f i n i t e , t o t a l l y f r e e , g r a n d a n d g l o r i o u s b e i n g , w h o l e a n d c o m p l e t e . ***

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 T h e o n l y g r o w t h t h e r e i s , i s t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e e g o . Lester Levenson
Session 3 SPIRITUAL GROWTH Let us vary the pace a little. Here are some thoughts on spiritual growth. It is suggested that they be absorbed one at a time. Read them, allow yourself to let the impact of each statement in before going on to the next. Let them build one upon the next. It is a kind of meditation for the whole being. *** The whole object on the path is to let go of the ego. What remains is your Self. *** The only growth there is, is the elimination of the ego. *** E g o i s t h e s e n s e o f I a ma n i n d i v i d u a l s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l . I n t h e e x t r e m e , i t i s e g o t i s m . *** Growth is transcending yourself, your habitual self, which is none other than ego. *** Growth is the ego getting out of its misery. *** Recognize that all joy is nothing but your Self, more or less. *** There is no happiness except that of experiencing your Self. When you see that, it makes the path v e r y d i r e c t . Y o u s t o p c h a s i n g t h e r a i n b o wa n d y o u g o f o r t h e h a p p i n e s s w h e r e y o u k n o wi t i s r i g h t within you. *** E v e r y t h i n g y o u a r e s e e k i n g , y o u a r e , a n d y o u v e r y f o o l i s h l y k e e p s a y i n g y o u a r e n o t . T h a t s p a r t o f t h e e n i g m a : e v e r y t h i n g e v e r y o n e i s s e e k i n g w i t h s u c h i n t e n s i t y , o n e h a s , a n d m u c h m o r e .

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*** I t , i s y o u w h e n y o u s a y , I , t h a t i s t h e I n f i n i t e . G r e a t b i g j o k e !H e r e y o u a r e i n f i n i t e l o o k i n g for your Self, which you are! *** When anyone says he is not a master, he is lying. *** Your effort should be for proper identity. Identify with your Self! *** Spiritual advancement is determined by how much you identify with your real Self. *** The ego is very tricky. It often talks us out of this path for shorter or longer periods of time. But o n c e w e v e g o t t e n o n t o t h e p a t h , w e u s u a l l y c o m e b a c k t o i t . S o b e c a r e f u l o f t h e t r i c k e r y o f t h e e g o part of us. It takes us away from the path. So no matter how far we have advanced on the path, the ego is always a tempting companion who can take us off the path, sometimes for an entire lifetime. *** T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g w e s h o u l d b e o n g u a r d a g a i n s t . T h e e g o s e n s e l a t c h e s o n a n d s a y s , I a mG o d . I t l a t c h e s o n t o t h e p r o g r e s s a n d i t f e e l s g o o d a n d i t s a y s , I a mI t a n d b y d o i n g s o , i t s a b o t a g e s f u r t h e r growth. Spiritual pride is deadly! *** When you recognize the opposition of the ego, you can let go of it. After practice, it is easy and after you let go of enough ego, you just naturally feel the peace and joy of your Self. *** I t s a c t u a l l y a p a t h o f t a k i n g o n m o r e a n d m o r e o f y o u r n a t u r a l s t a t e o f b e i n g i n f i n i t e . Y o u g i v e u p limitation. You give up misery. But you never give up anything worthwhile. You never give up anything good. *** On this path you constantly give up trouble. *** The first teacher is misery. It is usually the thing that causes us to seek the way out.
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*** First we start on the path to escape misery. Then we taste the Self and want It because It tastes so good. *** On the path you never give up anything, you just take on more and more of what you really want until you have the All. *** T a k e i t f o r t h e s w e e t n e s s t h a t s i n i t , n o t t o g e t o u t o f t h e b i t t e r n e s s t h a t s o u t o f i t . *** We discover that we never give up anything on the spiritual path but our self-imposed bondages and miseries. *** If you are weakly for the path, you are strongly for the sense-world. *** I t s o n l y t h e t h o u g h t I c a n t d o i t , t h a t s t o p s y o u f r o md o i n g i t . *** Y o u t h i n k y o u c a n t , t h a t s w h y y o u c a n t . *** T h o s e w h o c a n t , d o n t r e a l l y w a n t t o . *** Your growth depends only on you. *** It will happen as fast as you can do it. *** T h e o n l y o n e w h o i s g o i n g t o c h a n g e y o u i s y o u !

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*** Wi s h i n g w o n t d o i t , n o r w i l l t r y i n g . Y o u h a v e g o t t o d o i t ! *** Good intentions are no substitute for right action. *** T o c h a n g e m o r e r a p i d l y e x p e c t i t ! *** You must have a very strong desire to change because you are such a victim of habit that you want the world as much as a drowning man wants air. To offset that, you must want to know your Self as much as a drowning man wants air. *** Your success is determined by your desire for it. If you get discouraged, you are not really interested. *** Your only real friend is you. Your only real enemy is you. You are an enemy to yourself to the degree you limit your Self. You are a friend to yourself to the degree you de-limit yourself. *** What you do to yourself, only you can undo. You did it. You must undo it. *** This entire path is a do-it-yourself path. *** Do what is available to you to do. Do your best. *** Every experience is to bless you, not to hurt you. If you stay in accord with principle, you will come out higher! *** Every place and every situation in life presents an opportunity for growth.
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*** The best place to grow is right where you are. The best time is now. *** Be thankful for the opportunities to grow. *** The greatest of all tests are those at home, with your immediate family. Therefore, home is an excellent place to grow. *** A lot of spiritual growth can be had by practicing the real selfless love on your mate and family. *** It is a good opportunity to grow when people are saying things about you, opposing you. It gives you a chance to practice the real Love. It gives you a chance to practice the real Peace. Because they are making sounds with their mouths is no reason why you should feel bad about it. Opposition is a very healthy thing. It provokes and firms growth. *** It is necessary to remember that everyone can be our teacher. If we react to praise or pleasantries, t h a t i s d e v e l o p i n g e g o . I f w e r e d e p r e s s e d o n c r i t i c i s m , t h a t i s e g o . Wh e n w e a r e o u r S e l f , t h e r e i s n o reacting. *** T h e r e i s n t a n y t h i n g t h a t h a p p e n s t h a t c a n t b e u s e d . T h e r e s n o i n c i d e n t t h a t c a n n o t b e u s e d a s a teacher. *** Every minute of every day should be used to grow by. *** If we assume that we are there and we are not, circumstances soon awaken us to the fact that we are not. *** I f y o u t e l l o t h e r s o f y o u r h i g h e x p e r i e n c e s , o f y o u r g a i n s , b e c a u s e o f t h e i r j e a l o u s l y , t h e y s a y , A h , w h o d o e s s h e t h i n k s h e i s ? A n d t h a t w o r k s a g a i n s t y o u a n d t e n d s t o p u l l y o u d o w n .
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*** A n y t i m e y o u b r a g a b o u t a n y t h i n g , y o u r e i n v i t i n g a t e s t o f i t . S o , I w a r n y o u , i f y o u a r e g r o w i n g i n t o t h e s e t h i n g s , w h e n t h e y s t a r t c o m i n g , u n l e s s y o u r e s o s u r e y o u k n o wb y e x p e r i e n c e y o u c a n t l o s e i t , i t s b e t t e r n o t t o t e l l a n y o n e . *** Be proud of your spiritual accomplishments. Be happy with them. Be proud of them to yourself. *** When you have false spiritual pride, you invite a challenge of the thing that you are proud of. *** It is necessary to do away with doubts. *** It takes more than faith. It takes knowledge. You start with faith, but you must convert it to knowledge. You must test it out, and then you know it. *** In order to really understand, we must experience the knowledge. *** When you experience, it is no longer intellectual. *** You can get understanding without being able to put it into words. *** The only maturity there is, is spiritual understanding. *** S t a n d o u t a n d b e d i f f e r e n t a n d d o n t l e t t h e o t h e r s t r i c k y o u b a c k i n t o w h e r e y o u w e r e . I t s n o t e a s y . It takes fortitude. *** We should try to go all the way. To us it is given to do that. We have the possibility of going all t h e w a y b a c k h o m e r i g h t t o t h e A b s o l u t e .
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*** E x p e c t i n f i n i t y n o m o r e . Y o u c a n n o t e x p e c t t o o m u c h . *** Toe the line to the very end. The more you toe the line, the sooner the end. *** Every gain is an eternal gain. Every step forward you make now is forever. *** We climb a ladder and each time we get up to another rung, we forget about the rungs below. Then, when we get to the top, we kick the ladder away. *** The proof of this subject is the result you get. *** The more you grow, the less you feel the need to grow *** The higher you go, the less the incentive to go further. *** You never learn anything by disproving; you learn only by proving. *** S t u d y i n g t h e i l l u s i o n h e l p s m a k e i t r e a l . I f y o u w a n t t o k n o wt h e T r u t h , d o n t s t u d y t h e o p p o s i t e . *** The whole process of growth is letting go of thoughts. When our thoughts are totally eliminated, there is nothing left but the Self. *** D o n t t r y t o c o m p l i c a t e i t ; i t s t o o s i m p l e . ***

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We can only expand out of the ego. The Self is. *** Growth is letting go of being what you are not. *** L e t g o o f y o u r e g o a n d b e y o u r S e l f ! *** A s y o u g r o w , t h e w h o l e w o r l d o p e n s w i d e f o r y o u y o u e x p e r i e n c e s o m u c h m o r e . H o w e v e r , e v e n i f y o u h a v e t h i s w h o l e w o r l d , y o u v e o n l y g o t a d o t . T a k e t h e w h o l e c o s m o s ! *** L o n g i n g f o r l i b e r a t i o n i s t h e k e y . O n c e y o u g e t t h a t , y o u l l b e c a r r i e d a l l t h e w a y . *** In our desire to attain liberation or realization, we are helped to the degree that we help all others. *** Grow to the point where your whole attention is off you and on others. *** Wh y s h o u l d n t w e a l l b e m a s t e r s , a l l o f u s , h e r e a n d n o w ? *** T h e m o m e n t w e d e c i d e t o b e t h e S e l f r e a l l y d e c i d e i t i s s o ! *** The higher you go, the more non-difference comes. You accept the leaders of all religions alike. *** H a v i n g p e a c e u n d e r i d e a l c o n d i t i o n s i s n t i n d i c a t i v e o f s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h i t i s e s c a p e . *** When people are not growing, they are going in the opposite direction.

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*** You should thank those who oppose you because they give you an unusual opportunity for growth. *** Wh e n w e s t a r t c o n c e r n i n g o u r s e l v e s w i t h w h a t t h e y a r e d o i n g , w e r e t u r n i n g a w a y f r o mw h a t w e a r e doing. *** Y o u n e e d c o n s t a n t c o n f i r m a t i o n u n t i l y o u d o n t n e e d i t a n y m o r e . *** Perseverance is necessary. *** Adversity is a prod to growth. *** The more intense the crises in this world, the more we have an opportunity to grow. *** I t w o u l d b e s o f a s t i f p e o p l e w o u l d , w i t h c o n s t a n t , i n t e n s e e f f o r t a s k , Wh a t a mI ? *** Wh e n y o u g e t t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI , t h e n y o u h a v e c o n t r o l o v e r y o u r b o d y a n d m i n d . *** I f t h e r e i s a n y t h i n g y o u d o n t l i k e o u t t h e r e , t h e r e i s a n e e d t o c h a n g e y o u r s e l f . *** You may see fully who you are and not be able to maintain it. What happens is that, being the infinite Self, we can get a glimpse of the infinite, hold it for a while, and then suddenly feel as though w e v e l o s t i t . T h e r e a s o n f o r t h a t i s t h a t t h e m i n d h a s n o t b e e n e l i m i n a t e d . T h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s of limitation are submerged for the moment. You may go completely into your Self and let go of the m i n d t e m p o r a r i l y . Y o u h a v e n t e l i m i n a t e d t h e m i n d , y o u j u s t m o m e n t a r i l y l e t g o o f i t . S o t h e r e y o u are, for the moment, totally the infinite Self. However, the mind that has been submerged, re-emerges, a n d t h e n t h e e g o t a k e s o v e r a n d y o u j u s t c a n t u n d e r s t a n d w h a t h a p p e n e d t o y o u ; w h a t b r o u g h t y o u back into the heaviness of the world again. What is required is that we re-establish that state of the Self again and again until it becomes permanent. Each time we do it, we scorch more of the mind,
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until finally we have scorched the entire mind. Then we are permanently established in the Self. Then you sit back and the mind is out there, and the body is out there and you are not the mind, you are not the body. As long as you know you are not the mind and the body, both of them can go on to their h e a r t s c o n t e n t , a n d y o u k n o wt h a t t h e y c a n n o t t o u c h y o u . ***

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 S o m e o f u s a r e s e e k i n g H a p p i n e s s w h e r e i t i s a n d a s a r e s u l t a r e b e c o m i n g h a p p i e r . And others are seeking it blindly in the world where it is not and are becoming more f r u s t r a t e d . Lester Levenson
Session 4 HAPPINESS As I have said, when we analyze that which everyone is seeking, it turns out to be happiness. And when we find God, our true Self, that turns out to be the ultimate happiness. When we seek and find the full truth, the absolute truth, again that turns out to be the ultimate happiness, and also the greatest good. The greatest good turns out to be the ultimate happiness. Every being is seeking freedom and the complete freedom or liberation is also the ultimate happiness. So in the end, the words God, good, truth, liberation, freedom, and Self turn out to be the ultimate happiness. And everyone is seeking this Good, Happiness, Liberation, Truth, God, and Self. There i s n t a n y o n e w h o i s n o t s e e k i n g I t . T h e o n l y d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n s o m e o f u s a n d o t h e r s i s t h a t s o m e o f us are consciously seeking It in the direction where It is and are becoming happier. And others are seeking it blindly in the world and are becoming more frustrated. Yet, only when we go within do we discover that all happiness is there. The only place where we can feel happiness is right within ourselves. That is exactly where it is. Every time we attribute this happiness to something external, to a person or a thing external, we get more pain with it than we do pleasure. If you have experience enough, if you have lived long enough, and if you have examined it carefully enough, you have discovered this. The happiness that we are seeking and thinking is out there and e x t e r n a l t o u s , i s n o t t h e r e . T h e h a p p i n e s s w i t h n o s o r r o w c a n o n l y b e f o u n d b y g o i n g w i t h i n .

THE SELF AND THE MIND The second point is that this great Happiness that we are seeking is nothing but our very own Self, our very own beingness. And looking within, we discover it to be our most basic inherent nature, our very own Self unencumbered with our self-imposed limitations. And it is ours, here and now. And, there is not one of us who is not in direct touch with, in possession of, an infinite Beingness that is all perfect, all present, all joyous and eternal. And there is not one of us who is not in direct contact with it right now! But due to assumptions, concepts of limitation, looking outwardly, and w r o n g l e a r n i n g , w e h a v e c o v e r e d o v e r t h i s i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t w e a r e w i t h c o n c e p t s o f I a mt h i s p h y s i c a l b o d y , I a mt h i s m i n d . S o , i n o r d e r t o d i s c o v e r t h i s t r u t h , t h i s u n l i m i t e d B e i n g t h a t w e a r e , we must quiet the mind, we must let go of the mind. Only in this way may we achieve the ultimate happiness we seek. The mind, after all, is nothing but the sum-total of all thoughts and all thoughts are concepts of limitation. If any one of us could stop thinking right now and remain that way, he would be an unlimited Being from this moment on. It is really that simple, though not necessarily that easy to accomplish.

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So our first job is to undo negative thinking in order to get positive enough so that we may go in the right direction. Then, we must drop all thinking, both negative and positive thinking. When that happens, we discover that we are in the realm of knowingness, of omniscience, we have no need to think as everything is known and we are all joyous and totally free. Knowing everything, there is nothing to think about! Thinking is just our way of relating things to other things, connecting things together. But knowing e v e r y t h i n g , w e k n o wt h e u n i t y , t h e o n e n e s s a n d t h e r e s n o n e e d t o r e l a t e t h i n g s b y t h o u g h t . T h e r e b y , we are free, free of all concepts of separation and limitation. This leaves us free to use a mind should we want to communicate with the apparency of the world. The process of going within is a process of looking within and discovering that the mind is nothing but thoughts, and the thoughts are nothing but concepts of limitation. When we quiet the mind by letting go of these thoughts, we see this infinite Being that we are. This takes away the clouds covering this infinite Being and leaves us totally free.

BEYOND THINKING Seeing this infinite Being is not, however, the end of the job. We still have to do away with the r e m a i n i n g h a b i t s o f t h o u g h t . T h e n , w h e n t h e r e s n o m o r e r e m a i n i n g t h o u g h t s , s u b c o n s c i o u s a n d c o n s c i o u s , ( a n d t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s a r e t h e d i f f i c u l t o n e s t o l e t g o o f , ) t h a t s t h e e n d o f t h e r o a d o f p l a y i n g l i m i t e d . T h e n w e a r e t o t a l l y f r e e f o r e v e r ! Actually since we are infinite Beings, we are choosing to be limited! And, we are choosing to be limited to such a degree that now we are blindly behaving as though we are extremely limited beings. As I have said, as a result, we have all these apparent troubles. And troubles are only an apparency because they are assumed as real through our mind. Since we n o wk n o wt h a t e v e r y t h i n g w e s e e i n t h e w o r l d w e s e e o n l y i n o u r m i n d s a n d t h e r e s n o t h i n g b u t o u r consciousness, we know that nothing can be seen except through our consciousness. Whatever we see is in our consciousness, in our mind. So then our job is to change our consciousness and by so, change our environment. C h a n g i n g o n e s e n v i r o n m e n t i s a s t e p o n t h e w a y . A n d d o i n g s o y o u h a v e t h e p r o o f t h a t w h a t I m saying is true. Nothing should ever be accepted on hearsay. Never believe anything you hear. If you accept what I say to you just by listening to it, it is only hearsay. You must prove everything for yourself. Then, when you do, it is your knowledge and it is usable. To progress in the direction of w i s d o ma n d h a p p i n e s s , i t s a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y t h a t e v e r y o n e p r o v e i t o u t f o r h i m s e l f . As has been said before, this Truth can never be found in the world. The world as we see it now is multiplex, dual. But when we go just behind the world, we discover the absolute Truth. We discover that there is a singular Oneness throughout the world and universe and it turns out to be our very own Self, our very own Beingness, which some call God. The world is, but not as people see it. The world i s t r u l y o n l y o u r v e r y o w n S e l f . T h e I t h a t w e u s e w h e n w e s a y I a m i s t h e e x a c t s a m e I f a l s e l y appearing separate and divided. When we see the Truth, we see that you are me, that there is only one Beingness, there is only one Consciousness, and that we are the sum-total of all the Beingness or Consciousness that formerly appeared separate. So, again, to find Truth or Happiness, you have to go within, you have to see the Oneness, you have to see the universe as it really is, as nothing but your consciousness, which is nothing but your Self. Now, this is difficult to describe, it is something that must be experienced. Only when someone experiences it, does one know. It cannot be picked up from listening to anyone. Books and teachers c a n o n l y p o i n t t h e d i r e c t i o n . I t i s u p t o u s t o t a k e i t . T h a t s o n e o f t h e n i c e t h i n g s a b o u t t h e p a t h . T h e r e s n o t h i n g t o b e b e l i e v e d , e v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e e x p e r i e n c e d a n d p r o v e d b y e a c h p e r s o n t o h i s
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s a t i s f a c t i o n b e f o r e i t s a c c e p t e d . T o s u mi t u p , I t a k e t w o q u o t e s f r o mt h e B i b l e : I a mt h a t I a m , a n d B e s t i l l a n d k n o wt h a t I a m G o d . O r , i n o t h e r w o r d s , t h o u a r t T h a t w h i c h t h o u a r t s e e k i n g , q u i e t t h e m i n d u n t i l y o u s e e I t . O K ? Now we may go into questions.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q : I c o m e u p o n a d i f f e r e n c e t h e s e p e o p l e , a l l o f u s i n t h i s r o o m , e a c h o f u s h a s a f o r ma n d I s e e it. L e s t e r : Y o u r e s e e i n g w r o n g l y . Y o u r e s e e i n g i n e r r o r . Wh e n y o u l o o k a t m e , y o u s h o u l d s e e t h e Truth, you should see your Self. Strive until that day in which you will see this Truth. Q: After one has a certain amount of inner experience and begins to believe, there still comes an important decision as to what to do with your self as you find your self at that point. And then you have to decide what to do with the rest of your life. Lester: Yes. You must decide whether to pursue your welfare by seeking it in the world or by seeking it within you. Q : Y o u v e h a d a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f e x p e r i e n c e , b u t y o u w i l l a l w a y s b e c a l l e d b a c k t o a c e r t a i n contact with the outer world unless... Lester: Unless you make the outer world you. However, do not be attached to the world and it cannot disturb you. Then you can carry on with equanimity. Q: In order to make the outer world me, I would think I have to self-purify myself. Lester: Yes. Practicing serving the world will purify you. Q: Would I have to go out and sacrifice what remains of myself in some kind of service? Lester: The only thing you will ever sacrifice in this direction is your misery. Rendering service w o u l d g i v e o n l y h a p p i n e s s t o t h e d e g r e e y o u r h e a r t i s i n i t . T h e m o r e y o u w i l l i n g l y s e r v e t h e w o r l d , the more you discover that you are related to everything and everyone. There is no isolation. It is s e r v i n g a n d b e c o m i n g t h e A l l t h a t s h o u l d b e o u r d i r e c t i o n . Y o u d o n t c u t o u t a n d l e t o t h e r s b e s e p a r a t e from you. You become them throughout the practice of serving them. Q: The only reason I would make an effort in this direction is so I could better help other people. L e s t e r : G o o d , b u t y o u c a n t h e l p o t h e r p e o p l e a n y m o r e t h a n y o u c a n h e l p y o u r s e l f . S o , t h e b e s t w a y t o h e l p o t h e r s i s t o h e l p y o u r s e l f . I t s a u t o m a t i c a l l y s o , t h a t y o u l l h e l p o t h e r s t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t y o u l l h e l p y o u r s e l f . D o b o t h . Q : S o , h e l p y o u r s e l f b y h e l p i n g o t h e r s ; i s n t i t a t w o w a y a c t i o n ? L e s t e r : Y e s , b u t i t s t h e m o t i v e t h a t c o u n t s . I f I mh e l p i n g y o u w i t h s e l f i s h m o t i v e s , i t d o e s n t h e l p me or you. If I help only to help you, I grow. But there are many people in the world who help for t h e i r o w n e g o g l o r i f i c a t i o n a n d i t d o e s n t h e l p t h e ma n y , n o r d o e s i t h e l p y o u , b e c a u s e t h e y t h e n h e l p you ego-wise, i.e., they help validate your ego. Q : T h a t s a v e r y s u b t l e t h i n g , a v e r y d i f f i c u l t t h i n g t o g e t r i d o f , t h a t e g o . L e s t e r : R i g h t . Wh e n t h e r e s n o m o r e e g o , t h e o n l y t h i n g l e f t i s t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t y o u a r e . E g o is the sense of separation from the All. I am an individual, Lester, and I am separate from the All, and
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a l l y o u p e o p l e a r e o t h e r t h a n I t h a t i s t h e s e n s e o f e g o s e p a r a t e n e s s . T h e m o m e n t I mn o t t h e A l l , I l a c k s o m e t h i n g a n d t h e n I t r y t o g e t i t b a c k . I t h i n k I n e e d t h e m i s s i n g p a r t s o f t h e A l l a n d I s t a r t t r y i n g t o g e t t h e m . T h u s , I a s s u m e I d o n t h a v e t h e A l l , I a m l i m i t e d , a n d t h i s s t a r t s a d o w n w a r d s p i r a l a n d w e c o n t i n u e u n t i l w e g e t w h e r e w e a r e . H o w e v e r , w e r e a l l o n t h e w a y u p n o w . A n d t h e b i g p r o b l e mi s t o g e t r i d o f o u r e g o t h e s e n s e t h a t I a ma n individual separate from everything. We can do this by looking at our motivations. When our motivation is selfish we change it, make it altruistic; we act for others rather than for ourselves, and in this way we grow. Q: Is growth a constant becoming aware? Lester: Yes. You must first want to. When you want to, then you do become aware of your thinking. Then you become aware of your non-thinking which shows up as periods of peace and wellbeing. Q : L i k e t r y i n g t o f i n d o u t , f o r i n s t a n c e , w h y o n e f e e l s t h i n g s o r w h y o n e i s s i c k l i k e t h e s e p a s t t w o y e a r s o f i l l n e s s f o r m e . I t s t r e m e n d o u s , L e s t e r . E v e n t h i s m o r n i n g w h e n I w a s t a l k i n g t o m y s i s t e r o n t h e t e l e p h o n e , a f t e r s p e a k i n g t o h e r I k e p t t h i n k i n g , Wh y ?Wh y ?Wh y ? a n d I t r i e d t o b e s t i l l , a s s t i l l as I could possibly be, and all of a sudden, a realization of the why I had been so negative came to me w i t h s u c h t r e m e n d o u s c l a r i t y . A n d I t h o u g h t o f y o u s o i n t e n s e l y a n d I t h o u g h t , We l l , t h i s i s w h a t L e s t e r p o s s i b l y m e a n s . I t s f i n d i n g o u t t h e w h y , a n d w h e n o n e s e e s i t , o n e i m m e d i a t e l y t u r n s i t i n t o something positive and one is released. Lester: Good. Keep that up until there is no more. Q : T h a t s w h a t y o u m e a n a b o u t m a k i n g t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t c o n s c i o u s a n d t h e n l e t t i n g g o o f it? L e s t e r : Y e s . P u l l i n g t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t u p i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d w h e n i t s t h e r e , y o u l l s e e i t a n d n a t u r a l l y l e t g o o f i t b e c a u s e o f i t s n e g a t i v i t y . B u t a s l o n g a s i t r e m a i n s u n c o n s c i o u s , y o u d o n t s e e i t a n d c a n t d o a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t , c a n y o u ? Q : N o . A n d t r e m e n d o u s t h i n g s c o m e u p w h e n o n e b e g i n s . Wo w !A l l i g a t o r s !I t s n o t t h a t e a s y . L e s t e r : E g o w i s e , y o u d o n t l i k e w h a t c o m e s u p a n d y o u t e n d t o f i g h t i t . Q: Many times I go along on an even keel and then something comes up in personal relationships o r f r o mo t h e r d i r e c t i o n s , a n d a l l o f a s u d d e n , y o u f e e l p a i n , y o u r e s h o w i n g y o u r o w n l i m i t a t i o n s , a n d you step back, look at it, and release yourself from the whole situation. L e s t e r : Y e s , e v e r y s i t u a t i o n c a n b e u s e d f o r g r o w t h b y o b s e r v i n g w h a t s g o i n g o n , t h e w a y y o u d o . DO THIS ALL THE TIME, until there is no more needed to be let go of, until there is no more ego. Q : C r e a t i v e w o r k , f o r i n s t a n c e , h a s t h e e g o i n v o l v e d i n t h a t , t o o . I t s v e r y s u b t l e . A n d t h e m o r e o n e s e e s s p i r i t u a l l y , t h e m o r e o n e i s a b l e t o p a i n t a p i c t u r e , o r m a k e m u s i c , o r w h a t e v e r o n e d o e s this is a point that has always bothered me, the ego-involvement in this. It has worried me, how can one channel it, commercialize it, sell something? Lester: The answer is simple: Commercialize it but be not attached to this creativeness. Q : D i f f i c u l t . I t i s t h e e g o s a y i n g , I a mt h e c r e a t o r . L e s t e r : I t d o e s n t m a t t e r w h a t y o u d o , d o n o t b e a t t a c h e d t o i t . L e t g o o f t h e s e n s e o f I a mt h e c r e a t o r . L e t t h e c r e a t i v e n e s s f l o wt h r o u g h y o u .

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Q: I would think that in almost any creative act there has to be a spiritual part, the stem of it is b a s i c a l l y s o m e p u r e m o t i v a t i o n , b u t i t s a l m o s t a l w a y s m i x e d w i t h e g o . L e s t e r : L e t m e c l e a r u p o n e t h i n g , e v e r y t h i n g y o u d o i s c r e a t i v e , i t s i m p o s s i b l e t o d o a n y t h i n g t h a t i s n o t c r e a t i v e . T h a t s b e c a u s e t h e m i n d i s o n l y c r e a t i v e , b u t w h e n w e c r e a t e t h i n g s w e d o n t l i k e , w e call it non-creative and destructive. When we create things we like, we call that creative and constructive. But the mind only creates. Everyone is a creator. What we hold in mind, we create. Q: So all this ego of ours is our own creation? L e s t e r : R i g h t . I t s b e t t e r t o c r e a t e c o n s t r u c t i v e t h i n g s l i k e b e a u t y , h e a l t h , a f f l u e n c e . T h e y d o n o t demand as much attention from us as a sick body or a sick pocket-book. Consequently, we have more time and ease to look in the direction of Truth and to discover our Self. Q: Sometimes I think that one thinks too much of the ego and therefore the ego grows, and you want to fight it more and you give it more importance. L e s t e r : Y e s . B u t i t s t o o w e l l g r o w n r i g h t n o w , f a r m o r e t h a n y o u c a n s e e , i n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s p a r t of your mind. Mind is nothing but the sum-total collection of all thoughts. The unconscious part of the mind is holding all the thoughts that we are not looking at this moment. But those hundreds of t h o u s a n d s o f t h o u g h t s a r e t h e r e , a n d t h e y r e a c t i v e . U n c o n s c i o u s l y , y o u r e o p e r a t i n g t h a t b o d y ; y o u r e o p e r a t i n g e v e r y c e l l . Y o u r e w o r k i n g a c h e m i c a l p l a n t , a c i r c u l a t o r y , a c o o l i n g a n d a h e a t i n g s y s t e m all these thoughts are active and are actively operating your body. Also there are thousands of likes a n d d i s l i k e s , t h o u s a n d s o f t h o u g h t s o f w a n t i n g t h i n g s a n d n o t w a n t i n g t h i n g s . B u t e v e n i f t h e y r e u n c o n s c i o u s , t h e y r e a c t i v e , w h e t h e r w e l o o k a t t h e mo r n o t , t h e y a r e s u s t a i n e d a n d m o t i v a t e d b y o u r ego. This is the difficult part for us, to make these ego-motivated thoughts conscious so that we can let go of them. However, someday we reach a place where we will not be that ego-mind. When we see t h a t I a mn o t t h a t m i n d , I a mn o t t h a t b o d y , I a mn o t t h a t e g o , t h e n w e l l r e a l l y s e e , a n d w h e n w e r e a l l y s e e w e a r e n o t t h a t , i t s p o s s i b l e t o d r o p t h a t e g o m i n d b o d y , o n c e a n d f o r a l l . Q: Because one has re-become what one is? Lester: Not re-become, one has re-remembered, re-discovered, re-recognized what he always was. Q: So the ego-thing falls off like a crust. L e s t e r : R i g h t , g o n e f o r e v e r . N o wt h a t s w h a t w e d o e v e n t u a l l y . A t f i r s t , w e w o r k a t d r o p p i n g t h e ego until we get enough attention free so that we can seek who and what we are. Then, when we see w h o a n d w h a t w e a r e , w e s a y , T h i s i s r i d i c u l o u s , a n d w e d o n t i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e e g o m i n d b o d y a n y more. Then we watch the body go through life like we now watch every other body. Y o u w a t c h i t a n d y o u k n o wt h a t t h e b o d y i s n o t y o u . Y o u r e r e a l l y a b o v e t h a t b o d y , y o u r e n o t limited nor bound by it. You know you are eternal, whole, perfect and free, and you let the body go its way, like a puppet. Q: And then you use the body for whatever you like, if you want to, or if not, the show just goes on. L e s t e r : Y e s . Y o u l e t t h e s h o wg o o n . I t s a s h o wt h a t y o u w r o t e c a l l e d B o d i e s P l a y i n g L i m i t e d . However, you are free to choose to use the body to communicate with others, to help them grow. Q : I s n t e v e r y t h i n g w e s e e , a p i e c e o f w o o d , a p o t a t o c h i p , p a r t o f t h a t e t e r n a l T r u t h ? Lester: Yes, but you have to see it as nothing but you, then you see the truth of it. The world d o e s n t d i s a p p e a r , o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f i t c h a n g e s , c o m p l e t e l y . I n s t e a d o f t h e w o r l d b e i n g o t h e r t h a n w e , it becomes us, or we become it. When you see the world as you, it will look entirely different from what it looked like when it appeared separate. You will love and identify with it and everyone in it.
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When you fully love someone, you identify with and you become one with that one. When you become the universe you love the universe, or, if you fully love the universe, you become the universe. Love is absolutely necessary. When we love totally, we totally identify with the grand and glorious infinite Being that we are! ***

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 T h e o r i g i n a l s t a t e f o r a l l B e i n g s i s L o v e . O u r t r o u b l e s a r e d u e o n l y t o o u r c o v e r i n g o v e r t h i s n a t u r a l s t a t e . Lester Levenson
Session 5 LOVE REAL LOVE Human love is limited and yet it is that which most people define as love. Real love, however, is a constant, persistent acceptance of all beings in the universe -- fully, wholly, totally. It is acceptance of another as they are. In fact, it is loving them because they are the way they are. Human love is controlling and restrictive. Divine love is wanting and allowing another to be the way another one wants to be. Human love is judgmental and relative. Divine love is seeing and accepting everyone equally. In fact, this is the test of how divine our love is. Is it the same for every person we meet? Is our love for those who are opposing us as strong as for those who are supporting us? Real, divine love is unconditional and is for everyone alike. One of the greatest examples of unconditional love was modeled by Christ and His teachings: turn the other cheek, love your enemy, and so forth are perfect examples. In fact, if we as a nation were to practice these teachings, we could make every enemy of ours completely impotent. All we would have to do is to love them. They would b e p o w e r l e s s t o d o a n y h a r mt o u s . H o w e v e r , w e w o u l d h a v e t o d o i t a s a n a t i o n a t l e a s t t h e majority of the people would have to love the enemy.

LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT Human love is reactive, object dependant and selective. Real love is, however, something we can not turn on and off. Either we have it or we do not have it. With it, it is impossible to love one person and hate another. In fact, to the degree that we hate anyone, to that degree we do not love the others. Our love is no greater than our hatred is for any one person. In truth, what most of us call love is really a need. If we say that we love this one person, but not another person, what we are actually saying is that we need this person. Therefore, we will do whatever we have to do so we can get what we want from those we need. This is not real love. It is conditional, manipulative and exclusive. S o w h e r e h u m a n l o v e i s s e l f i s h d i v i n e l o v e i s s e l f l e s s . Wh e r e h u m a n l o v e i s l i m i t e d d i v i n e love gives unlimited joy beyond our greatest imagination. Try it and discover this for yourself. What follows are some additional thoughts about love. Read them slowly. Pause after each and let them work their magic within you. You do not have to think about them as much as you let them in, allowing each to build upon the last. If you do this, this process becomes a kind of meditation. *** Love is a feeling of givingness with no thought of receiving anything in return. When we strive for this, we see and feel nothing but the most enthralling love everywhere and in everyone. We taste the
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sweetness of Beingness and are effortlessly locked in harmony with that. We are intoxicated with the joy that defies description. *** The real love is the love we feel for others. It is determined by how much we give ourselves to others. *** Full love is identifying with every other being. *** When we identify with everyone, we treat everyone as we would treat ourselves. *** Love is the balm, the salve, that soothes and heals everything and all. *** When you love, you lift others to love. *** The most you can give is your love. It is greater than giving materiality. *** When you understand people, you see that they are doing right in their own eyes. When you understand, you allow, you accept. If you understand, you love. *** When we love, not only are we happy, but our whole life is in harmony. *** H a p p i n e s s i s e q u a l t o o n e s c a p a c i t y t o l o v e . *** If we love completely, we are perfectly happy. *** There is always either love or the lack of it.
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*** When one is not loving, one is doing the opposite. *** The highest love is when you become the other one. Identity is love in its highest form. *** If you love your enemy, you have no more enemies! *** The power and effect of love is self-obvious. Just try it! *** If you will look at it from your very own center, the words love, acceptance, identification, understanding, communication, truth, God, Self are all the same. *** The original state of man was all love. His troubles are due only to his covering over of his natural state of love. *** Love and discover that selflessness turns out to be the greatest good for yourself. *** Love is effortless and hate requires much effort. *** Apply love and every problem resolves. *** Human love is needing the other one. Divine love is giving to the other one. *** Love equals happiness. When we are not happy, we are not loving. *** The concept of possessiveness is just the opposite of the meaning of love. Love frees,
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possessiveness enslaves. *** L o v e i s a f e e l i n g o f o n e n e s s w i t h , o f i d e n t i t y w i t h , t h e o t h e r o n e . Wh e n t h e r e s a f u l l l o v e , y o u f e e l yourself as the other person. Then treating the other person is just like treating your very own self. Y o u d e l i g h t i n t h e o t h e r o n e s j o y . *** Love is a tremendous power. One discovers that the power behind love, without question, is far more powerful than the hydrogen bomb. *** One individual with nothing but love can stand up against the entire world because this love is so powerful. This love is nothing but the Self. This love is God. *** Love will give not only all the power in the universe, it will give all the joy and all the knowledge. *** The best way to increase our capacity to love is through understanding ourselves. *** I think everyone knows the wonderful experience of loving one person, so you can imagine what i t s l i k e w h e n y o u l o v e t h r e e b i l l i o n p e o p l e . I t w o u l d b e t h r e e b i l l i o n t i m e s m o r e e n j o y a b l e . *** Love is a constant attitude that evolves in us when we develop it. We should try practicing the love first on our family. Grant everyone in the family their own beingness. Then apply it to friends, then strangers, then everyone. *** The more we practice love, the more we love, and the more we love, the more we can practice love. Love begets love. *** The more we develop love, the more we come in touch with the harmony of the universe, the more delightful our life becomes, the more beautiful, the more everything. It starts a cycle going in which you spin upwards.

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*** The only method of receiving love is to give love, because what we give out must come back. *** T h e e a s i e s t t h i n g i n t h e u n i v e r s e t o d o i s t o l o v e e v e r y o n e . T h a t i s , o n c e w e l e a r n w h a t l o v e i s , i t s the easiest thing to do. It takes tremendous effort not to love everyone and you see the effort being e x p e n d e d i n e v e r y d a y l i f e . B u t w h e n w e l o v e , w e r e a t o n e w i t h a l l . We r e a t p e a c e a n d e v e r y t h i n g falls into line perfectly. *** I n t h e h i g h e r s p i r i t u a l l o v e , t h e r e s n o s e l f d e p r i v a t i o n . We d o n t h a v e t o h u r t o u r s e l v e s w h e n w e l o v e e v e r y o n e , a n d w e d o n t . *** Wi t h l o v e t h e r e s a f e e l i n g o f m u t u a l i t y . T h a t w h i c h i s m u t u a l i s c o r r e c t . I f y o u l o v e , y o u h o l d t o that law. *** L o v e i s s m o t h e r e d b y w r o n g a t t i t u d e s . L o v e i s o u r b a s i c n a t u r e a n d a n a t u r a l t h i n g . T h a t s w h y i t i s so easy. The opposite takes effort. We move away from our natural self, cover it, smother it with c o n c e p t s o f t h e o p p o s i t e o f l o v e a n d t h e n , b e c a u s e w e r e n o t l o v i n g , u n l o v i n g c o m e s b a c k a t u s . *** We feel the greatest when we love. *** T h e r e a l l o v e w i n s t h e u n i v e r s e n o t j u s t o n e p e r s o n , b u t e v e r y o n e i n t h e u n i v e r s e . *** B e h i n d t h e c o n c e p t s o f n o n l o v e , t h e r e i s a l w a y s t h e i n f i n i t e l o v e t h a t w e a r e . Y o u c a n t i n c r e a s e i t . All you can do is peel away the concepts of non-love and hatred so that this tremendous loving Being that we are is not hidden anymore. *** Love is an absolutely necessary ingredient on the path. To get full Realization, we must increase our love until it is complete. ***

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Wh e n y o u r e a l l y l o v e , y o u c a n n e v e r f e e l p a r t i n g . T h e r e i s n o d i s t a n c e , b e c a u s e t h e y r e r i g h t i n y o u r heart. *** Only through growth do we really understand what love is. *** When you really love you understand the other one fully. *** L o v e i s a n a t t i t u d e t h a t i s c o n s t a n t . L o v e d o e s n t v a r y . L o v e c a n n o t b e c h o p p e d u p . *** All love, including human love, has its source in divine love. *** Every human being is basically an extremely loving individual. *** When you love, you think only the best for those you love. *** The more you love, the more you understand. *** T h e r e s o n e w o r d t h a t w i l l d i s t i n g u i s h t h e r i g h t l o v e f r o mt h e w r o n g l o v e , a n d t h a t i s g i v i n g . *** You could hug a tree the same way as a person when you are very high. Your love permeates everything. *** Total self-abnegation is the most selfish thing we can do. When self-abnegation is total we think only of others and are automatically in the Self. *** Love is the state of the Self. It is something you are.
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*** Consideration is a necessary part of love. *** Anything but full love is, to a degree, hate. *** C a n y o u s e e w h y y o u c a n t b e a g a i n s t a n y t h i n g ?T h e a n t i s G o d , t h e e n e m y i s G o d . I f y o u r e l i m i t i n g a n y p a r t , y o u r e h o l d i n g G o d a w a y . L o v e c a n n o t b e p a r c e l e d . L o v e h a s t o b e f o r a l l . *** The greatest of all progress is love. *** Your capacity to love is determined by your understanding. *** I f y o u d o n t t r u s t s o m e o n e , y o u d o n t l o v e h i mf u l l y . *** I f w e l o v e t h i s w o r l d w e a c c e p t t h e w o r l d t h e w a y i t i s . We d o n t t r y t o c h a n g e i t . We l e t i t b e . We grant the world its beingness. Trying to change others is injecting our own ego. *** The more we love the less we have to think. *** B e i n g l o v e i s h i g h e r t h a n l o v i n g . T h e r e a l d e v o t e e o f G o d h a s n o c h o i c e t o l o v e h e i s l o v e . *** Love is your Self. That is the highest love. *** L o v e i s a n a t t i t u d e t h a t i s c o n s t a n t . L o v e d o e s n t v a r y . We l o v e o u r f a m i l y a s m u c h a s w e l o v e s t r a n g e r s . T o t h e d e g r e e w e r e c a p a b l e o f l o v i n g s t r a n g e r s , t o t h a t d e g r e e w e r e c a p a b l e o f l o v i n g o u r family.

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*** Love is togetherness. *** L o v e i s t h e S e l f . T h e S e l f d o e s n t l o v e . T h e S e l f i s l o v e . ( O n l y i n d u a l i t y c a n y o u l o v e . ) *** I t s n o t l o v i n g , i t s b e i n g l o v e t h a t w i l l g e t y o u t o G o d . *** Love: Each one glorifies himself by service rendered to others and must, therefore, necessarily receive from others. Thus God flows back and forth and we delight in His exoticism. There is nothing so delectable as the spirit of givingness. It is intoxicating beyond any other experience capable to man. Discover this. Service is the secret to bathing in the ever-new joy of God. Service opens the doors to the greatest fields of beauty and charm, wherein is enjoyed the nectars of the infinite variety of tastes, all blended into one drink, that of superlative love. Come into the garden of the most delicious and everlasting joy by an everlasting desire to love and serve. Let go of the emptiness of selfishness. Fill yourself to the full with selfless love. ***

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 O u r r e a l n a t u r e , t h e i n f i n i t e r e a l s e l f t h a t w e a r e , i s s i m p l y u s m i n u s t h e m i n d . Lester Levenson
Session 6 REALIZATION A BETTER WAY Most knowledge is intellectual. It is acquired from reading books and from traditional, cognitive forms of education. Most of us have a lot of this intellectual knowledge. And yet we are still not r e a l i z e d . I t m u s t f o l l o wt h e n t h a t t o a c h i e v e r e a l i z a t i o n , w e n e e d a d i f f e r e n t k i n d o f k n o w l e d g e , a k n o w l e d g e t h a t c a n b e e x p e r i e n c e d , f e l t , a n d i n t e g r a t e d . We c a n c a l l t h i s k n o w l e d g e E x p e r i e n t i a l . Experiential Knowledge is the only useful kind for growth, for through it we can finally realize our inner sight. This kind of knowledge also fits with our feelings. It feels right, and integrates with our whole Beingness. Through Experiential Knowledge we know, and even more importantly, we know that we know. Realization is seeing something, really seeing it for the first time. Realization is like an electric l i g h t b u l b t u r n i n g o n i n t h e m i n d , a n d i t a l l o w s y o u t o s a y , O h , n o wI s e e . I t a l l o w s u s t o h e a r something that we might have heard a hundred times before, but this time, upon hearing it and seeing, we experience it as real. This is realization. T h i s E x p e r i e n t i a l K n o w l e d g e i s t h e o n l y k n o w l e d g e t h a t d o e s u s a n y g o o d . B u t , t h i s d o e s n o t m e a n w e d o n o t u s e o u r m i n d . We d o . T h e d i f f e r e n c e i s t h a t r a t h e r t h a n u s i n g t h e m i n d t o m a k e u p the answers, we direct the mind toward the place where the answer is. And when we do, we discover that the answer does not come from the mind. It comes from a place behind and beyond the mind. It comes from the realm of knowingness, the realm of omniscience. By quieting the mind through stilling our thoughts, each of us has access to this realm of Knowingness. Then and there we realize. We know and we know that we know. Are there any questions about what I just said?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: Are knowingness and feelingness the same thing? Lester: No. The feeling comes just before the knowing. Q: Is knowingness beyond feeling? Is knowledge that which feels true? L e s t e r : T h e a n s w e r t o b o t h y o u r q u e s t i o n s i s Y e s . I t s s o m e t h i n g y o u l l h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e . T h e r e s a f e e l o f t h i n g s , a n d a l s o t h e r e a r e t i m e s w h e n y o u j u s t k n o wa n d y o u k n o wy o u k n o w , a n d t h e r e s n o f e e l i n g t o i t . K n o w i n g i s r e a l l y a h i g h e r l e v e l . We s t a r t w i t h r e a s o n i n g , t h i n k i n g , i n t h e realm of thinkingness. Then we move into the realm of feelingness. The top realm is the realm of Knowingness. Q: Is ego implied in feeling? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h e e g o d o e s t h e f e e l i n g . I t i s a h i g h e r e g o s t a t e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e s d u a l i t y I f e e l e m o t i o n . K n o w i n g n e s s i s a w a r e n e s s . Wh e n I s a i d : Y o u k n o wa n d y o u k n o wt h a t y o u k n o w , y o u r e a w a r e a n d y o u r e a w a r e o f t h e f a c t t h a t y o u a r e a w a r e . T h e r e s n o t h i n g c o n d i t i o n i n g i t . T h e
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very top state is the state of All Awareness, of All Beingness. Beingness and Awareness turn out to be the same thing when we get there. Before, it seems as though they are two different things. But when we move to the top, Beingness, Awareness, and Consciousness are all the same thing, because the Awareness you are aware of is being All Beingness. We see that we are not only this body, but that we are every other body, every other thing, every atom in this universe. So, if we are evry being and atom, we are all Beingness. Q: You mean I am That? L e s t e r : Y e s , d e f i n i t e l y !I t s I ! T h e t o p s t a t e i s I . T h a t s a l l , n o t e v e n a m . J u s t b e l o wt h e t o p i s I a m . As t e p b e l o wt h a t i s I a mt h a t I a m . As t e p b e l o wt h a t i s I a mu n l i m i t e d . As t e p b e l o w t h a t i s I a mg r e a t . Q: Or one with God? L e s t e r : We l l , w h e r e i s O n e w i t h G o d ? O n e w i t h G o d i s n o t a t o p s t a t e b e c a u s e i t s i n d u a l i t y . I f I a mo n e w i t h G o d , t h e r e i s a n I a n d t h e r e i s a G o d . I n t h e u l t i m a t e s t a t e , w e d i s c o v e r t h a t I i s G o d , t h e r e s o n l y a s i n g u l a r O n e n e s s i n t h e u n i v e r s e , a n d w e a r e , w e m u s t n e c e s s a r i l y b e , t h a t O n e n e s s . T h a t s w h a t w e d i s c o v e r a t t h e e n d o f t h e l i n e , o r t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e l i n e , w h i c h e v e r w a y y o u l o o k a t it. We are unlimited Beings covering over this limitlessness with concepts of limitation, the first of w h i c h i s I a ma n i n d i v i d u a l s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l , t h a t s a v e r y f i r s t a n d a v e r y b i g e r r o r w e m a k e . I a ms e p a r a t e , I a ma p e r s o n a l i t y , m y n a m e i s L e s t e r , I h a v e a b o d y , a n d I s p i r a l r i g h t d o w n . A f t e r w e a s s u m e a m i n d a n d a b o d y , t h e n w e a s s u m e a l l t h e s e t r o u b l e s a n d p r o b l e m s b u t t h e y r e n o t h i n g b u t assumptions. They are only a fiction which we see after we go within, quiet the mind, and discover all the truth right there. This whole world, as now seen, is nothing but a dream-illusion that never was. The Truth is just behind the outward world. So why make trouble? The growth is simply the elimination of all the concepts of limitation. That infinite perfect Being that we are must always be infinite and perfect and t h e r e f o r e i s p e r f e c t r i g h t n o w . T h a t s o n e t h i n g w e c a n n e v e r c h a n g e o u r u n l i m i t e d S e l f . T h a t i s a l l the time. But I, the unlimited Self, can assume that I am limited and that I have a mind, I have a body, I have problems. However, it is only an assumption. Q : Wh a t s t h e t e c h n i q u e f o r c u t t i n g t h r o u g h a l l t h a t , f o r g e t t i n g r i g h t t o t h a t s t a t e w h e r e y o u h a v e that total awareness? L e s t e r : P o s e t h e q u e s t i o n , Wh o a n d w h a t a mI ? a n d a w a i t t h e a n s w e r t o p r e s e n t i t s e l f . T h e thinking mind can never give the answer, because all thought is of limitation. So, in quietness and m e d i t a t i o n , p o s e t h e q u e s t i o n s : Wh o a mI ? Wh a t a mI ? Wh e n o t h e r t h o u g h t s c o m e u p , s t r i k e t h e md o w n . I f y o u c a n t , a s k T o w h o ma r e t h e s e t h o u g h t s ?We l l , t h e s e t h o u g h t s a r e t o m e . We l l t h e n , w h o a mI ? a n d y o u r e r i g h t b a c k o n t h e t r a c k o f Wh o a mI ? C o n t i n u e t h i s u n t i l y o u g e t t h e a n s w e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n Wh o a n d w h a t a mI ? r e g a r d l e s s o f h o wl o n g i t t a k e s . The answer is the unlimited Self. The only way It becomes obvious is when the mind stills almost completely. The only obstacles to immediate full realization are the thoughts, every one of which is l i m i t e d . E l i m i n a t e t h o s e t h o u g h t s a n d y o u l l s e e t h i s i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t y o u a l w a y s w e r e a n d a r e , a n d always will be. The difficulty is the past habit-patterns of thought, the unconscious constant turning and churning of thought in a mechanism we have set up that we call the unconscious mind. The unconscious thoughts are simply our thoughts that we do not look at, and so we call them unconscious. This is the enemy we set up. To lessen these unconscious thoughts, we first make them conscious. When we make them conscious, we may let go of them and they are gone forever. This quiets the unconscious mind. The more we eliminate the thoughts, the more obvious our real Self becomes. The more obvious our real
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Self becomes, the more we are able to scorch the remaining thoughts, until the mind is totally quieted. Q: You have to still the conscious thoughts before you can get to the unconscious thoughts? Lester: The conscious thought is only the unconscious thought made conscious. Q: They come through dreams too, at that state, the unconscious thoughts? L e s t e r : Y e s , b u t i t s o n l y i n t h e w a k i n g s t a t e t h a t w e c a n e l i m i n a t e t h e ma n d t h e r e b y g r o w . Q : Y o u s t i l l y o u r c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s t h r o u g h m e d i t a t i o n , o t h e r t e c h n i q u e s , e t c . N o w , t h e Wh o a m I ? w i l l g o r i g h t t h r o u g h b o t h , i s t h a t c o r r e c t ? L e s t e r : Y e s . A l s o , y o u c a n u s e Wh o a mI ? t o s t i l l o r e l i m i n a t e t h o u g h t s . P o s e t h e q u e s t i o n Wh o a mI ? a n d w h e n a t h o u g h t c o m e s u p , y o u s a y , T o w h o mi s t h i s t h o u g h t ? T h e a n s w e r i s T o m e . We l l , w h o a mI ? a n d y o u r e b a c k o n t h e t r a c k . T h u s , y o u e l i m i n a t e t h e t h o u g h t s a s t h e y c o m e u p . Q: But what keeps the unconscious thoughts from popping up at that time? L e s t e r : T h e y w i l l a n d s h o u l d p o p u p . I t t h e y p o p u p , t h e y r e c o n s c i o u s . T h e n y o u c a n d r o p t h e m . Eventually, you eliminate all of them. Q: How many minds do we have? L e s t e r : T h e r e s o n l y o n e m i n d . Wh a t w e a r e l o o k i n g a t t h i s m o m e n t i s w h a t t h e w o r l d c a l l s t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d . T h e p a r t o f t h e m i n d w e r e n o t l o o k i n g a t t h i s m o m e n t t h e w o r l d c a l l s t h e u n c o n s c i o u s m i n d . I t s t h e m o d e o f m i n d w h i c h w e g i v e a d i f f e r e n t n a m e t o . Wh a t w e a r e t a l k i n g about now, what we are aware of now, is what we call the conscious mind, the conscious thought. The unconscious mind is all the thoughts we are not interested in at this moment. Wh a t s o m e c a l l s u p e r c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t t h e r e s r e a l l y n o s u c h t h i n g a s s u p e r c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t . T h e s u p e r c o n s c i o u s , t h a t w h i c h i s a b o v e c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i s a l r e a d y o u t o f t h e t h i n k i n g r e a l m t h a t s t h e o m n i s c i e n c e , t h a t s t h e r e a l mo f K n o w i n g n e s s . T h e s u p e r c o n s c i o u s r e a l i s A l l A w a r e n e s s , A l l Knowingness. There is no thinking when you know. Q: Is unconscious different from subconscious? Lester: Subconscious and unconscious are the same. Q : D o y o u a g r e e w i t h J u n g s c o l l e c t i v e u n c o n s c i o u s t h e o r y ? L e s t e r : I o n l y a g r e e w i t h T r u t h . A n d t h i s i s o n e t h i n g I e m p h a s i z e T r u t h i s t h e o n l y a u t h o r i t y f o r t r u t h . A c c e p t n o t h i n g u n t i l y o u c a n p r o v e i t o u t . D o n t e v e n a c c e p t w h a t I s a y , n o m a t t e r h o wm u c h I s p e a k a s t h o u g h I k n o w . I f i t d o e s n t f i t i n t o y o u r k n o w i n g n e s s a t p r e s e n t , y o u c a n a c c e p t i t f o r checking. But only that which you can prove out for yourself, only that should you accept. This is b a s i c a l l y i m p o r t a n t . I t i s a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y t o p r o v e a l l t h i s k n o w l e d g e f o r y o u r s e l f . O t h e r w i s e , i t s hearsay to you. You must make this knowledge your knowledge. N o w , t h e r e s o n l y o n e T r u t h , o n e A b s o l u t e T r u t h . S o p u t t i n g n a m e s t o i t d o e s n t m e a n a n y t h i n g . Wh e t h e r s o a n d s o s a i d i t o r I s a i d i t , i t d o e s n t m e a n a n y t h i n g . I s i t t r u e ?D o e s i t i n t e g r a t e i n t o y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g ?T h a t s t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t m a t t e r s . T h a t s t h e p o i n t w h e r e i n w e a r e d i f f e r e n t . We t r y to make this very practical so that you can use this knowledge and move toward the total understanding as quickly as possible. Q: Is it necessary to go through stages? Lester: No. How long should it take Infinite Power, Infinite Knowledge to know that It is infinite?

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Q : I t w o u l d n t t a k e a n y t i m e . Lester: Right. When man so wills with full intensity of will, it happens quickly. If you would want this more than anything else, you would have it in a matter of weeks or months. Q: Is there any way of making yourself want it more and more? Lester: Yes, make yourself want it by experiencing the wonderfulness of it. Q: Or make yourself more and more miserable? Lester: Well, there are two incentives; misery is one but not the best. The sweetness, the wonderfulness, the glory should make us want it more than the misery should. Q: The glory in what sense? L e s t e r : T h e g l o r y , o f k n o w i n g w h a t y o u a r e . I t s a t r e m e n d o u s e x p e r i e n c e , i t s a n e c s t a s y , a n e u p h o r i a . T h e r e a r e n o r e a l w o r d s t o d e s c r i b e i t b e c a u s e , w e l l , w e r e i n a n a g e w h e r e t h e s e t h i n g s a r e not experienced and therefore not understood, so how can there be words for things that are not u n d e r s t o o d ?T h e r e a r e n o w o r d s t o d e s c r i b e t h e s e f e e l i n g s , t h e y r e s o b e y o n d p r e s e n t u n d e r s t a n d i n g . S o y o u p i c k t h e w o r d s y o u k n o wb e s t t o d e s c r i b e i t a n d t h a t s i t . P a r a m h a n s a Y o g a n a n d a u s e s t h e w o r d s e v e r n e wj o y w e l l i n g u p e v e r y s e c o n d , a n d t h a t s a p r a c t i c a l w a y o f d e s c r i b i n g i t . A t f i r s t , i t s a j o y t h a t s p i l l s o v e r e v e r y s e c o n d , j u s t k e e p s p o u r i n g o u t , p o u r i n g o u t y o u f e e l a s t h o u g h y o u c a n t contain it. Later on, it resolves itself into a very profound peace, the most peaceful peace you could e v e r i m a g i n e . I t s a d e l i c i o u s p e a c e w h i c h i s f a r m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e t h a n e v e r n e wj o y . B u t p l e a s e , g e t the ever-new joy! Q : B u t d o n t s t a y t h e r e . L e s t e r : T h a t s i t . I t s v e r y e a s y t o g e t s t u c k i n t h e e v e r n e w j o y s t a t e . T h a t s w h a t t h e y c a l l t h e a n a n d a s h e a t h . I t s t h e l a s t v e i l w e h a v e t o r e m o v e . I t i s t h e l a s t w a l l w e m u s t b r e a k t h r o u g h . Wh e n y o u s t a r t t h i s e v e r n e wj o y , i t s s o g o o d y o u j u s t w a n t t o c o n t i n u e i t . A l s o , y o u h a v e n o f e e l i n g o f n e e d t o c h a n g e , e v e r y t h i n g i s s o w o n d e r f u l . B u t i t i s n t t h e f i n a l s t a t e . T h e f i n a l s t a t e i s t h e p e a c e t h a t p a s s e t h a l l u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I t s a d e e p , d e e p p e a c e . Y o u m o v e i n t h e w o r l d , t h e b o d y m o v e s , b u t y o u have absolute peace all the time. Bombs could be dropping all around you and you have that perfect p e a c e , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t s g o i n g o n . Q: How do you maintain that state? L e s t e r : I f y o u g e t i t , y o u d o n t h a v e t o m a i n t a i n i t , b e c a u s e y o u h a v e i t , y o u a r e i t . Q : We l l , i n t h a t p a r t i c u l a r s t a t e t h e n , y o u a r e r e a l l y o m n i s c i e n t a n d a l l t h e o t h e r t h i n g s , a n d t h e r e s no necessity for thinking. L e s t e r : R i g h t . T h a t s t h e t o p s t a t e . N o w , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o d i p i n t o t h i s s t a t e t o a c e r t a i n d e p t h t h a t s very deep and not maintain it because the habits from the past, the habits of thoughts that have not b e e n e l i m i n a t e d , r e e m e r g e a n d t a k e o v e r . We c a n f e e l t h i s i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t w e a r e a n d i t s a w o n d e r f u l e x p e r i e n c e t h e n , t h e n e x t m i n u t e , O h , s o a n d s o w a n t s m e t o d o t h i s a n d I d o n t w a n t t o d o i t , a t h o u g h t c o m e s i n a n d t h e r e y o u a r e : i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h u n h a p p y l i m i t e d n e s s . Y o u , t h e S e l f , a r e t r y i n g t o b e t h i s u n l i m i t e d B e i n g t h r o u g h a v e r y n a r r o we g o , a v e r y l i m i t e d e g o , a n d i t h u r t s . T h a t s a l l it is. Q: How do you bombard that ego and get rid of it? Lester: First and foremost, an intense desire to let go of the ego. Second, listening to someone who knows the way and following through on the direction, especially if that one is a fully realized Being.
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Q : T h a t s h a r d t o f i n d . L e s t e r : N o , t h e y a r e a v a i l a b l e r i g h t w h e r e y o u a r e . Wh e r e v e r y o u a r e , t h e y r e r i g h t t h e r e . I c a n name some of them: Jesus, Buddha, Yogananda have been in the physical body. But there is no need f o r a p h y s i c a l b o d y w h e n y o u c a n g e t t h e o t h e r s w h e r e v e r y o u a r e b e c a u s e t h e y r e o m n i p r e s e n t . A l l y o u n e e d t o d o i s o p e n y o u r m i n d s e y e a n d s e e t h e m . T h e y r e o m n i p r e s e n t s o t h e y m u s t b e r i g h t where you are. Also, they, wanting to help you, must necessarily come to you if you open yourself to them. They have no choice. They have made a commitment. So all you need to do is to ask for their help and guidance and open yourself to it and it is there. H o w e v e r , s i n c e w e t h i n k w e r e p h y s i c a l b o d i e s , s o m e t i m e s w e m o r e r e a d i l y a c c e p t a f u l l y r e a l i z e d Being when He is in a physical body. Therefore, we will take more help, because in our physical s e n s i n g , H e s e e m s t o b e m o r e r e a l . B e c a u s e o f t h a t , i t s g o o d t o h a v e a f u l l y r e a l i z e d B e i n g i n t h e f l e s h . H o w e v e r , i f w e d o n t h a v e o n e , i t d o e s n t m e a n w e c a n t t a k e t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h o s e w h o a r e omnipresent. Q : S o m e a s p e c t o f t h e H i n d u t h o u g h t s a y s y o u d o n t d o i t w i t h o u t a l i v e G u r u , b u t I t h i n k t h e y v e e v o l v e d b e y o n d t h a t n o w , a n d y o u r e c o n f i r m i n g i t . Lester: Yes. However, a Guru is alive, whether in physical body or not. Q: Do people need a live Guru? L e s t e r : P e o p l e n e e d a G u r u , a T e a c h e r . H e d o e s n t n e c e s s a r i l y h a v e t o b e l i v e i n a p h y s i c a l b o d y , b u t h e h a s t o b e a c c e p t e d a s b e i n g a l i v e . H e d o e s n t h a v e t o b e i n a p h y s i c a l b o d y . T h e r e a s o n w h y w e n e e d a G u r u i s t h a t w e a r e i n a v e r y d i f f i c u l t a g e . I t s a n a g e o f m a t e r i a l i s m w h e r e e v e r y t h i n g , e v e r y o n e , i s s h o u t i n g a t u s : T h i s i s a m a t e r i a l w o r l d . T h i s i s i t ! We h a v e b e e n i n this world again and again and again. So we really need the assistance of a fully realized Being to offset that constant weight of the world that says we are physical, limited bodies. We should want the Truth more than we want air. Then we would get full realization very quickly. Q: Did you coin that, is that yours, an aphorism? Lester: Nothing is mine. Anything I say will have always been said before. I might just twist the w o r d s a r o u n d t h i s w a y o r t h a t w a y , i n m y o w n s t y l e , b u t t h e r e s n o t h i n g n e w . T r u t h a l w a y s w a s a n d always will be. T h e r e s a s t o r y i n t h e E a s t e r n w r i t i n g s o f a m a s t e r a n d h i s d i s c i p l e . T h e y w e r e b a t h i n g i n t h e G a n g e s a n d t h e d i s c i p l e a s k e d : Ma s t e r , h o wc a n I k n o wt h e T r u t h ? A n d t h e t e a c h e r t o o k h i mb y t h e hair and held him under the water until he was about ready to go unconscious, and then he let him up a n d s a i d , N o w , w h e n y o u w a n t T r u t h a s m u c h a s y o u w a n t e d a i r , t h e n y o u l l h a v e i t . They have some great stories. That snake and the rope story is an excellent analogy of the physical w o r l d . I g u e s s e v e r y o n e k n o w s t h a t , d o n t t h e y ?Ap e r s o n w a l k s a l o n g t h e r o a d a t d u s k a n d s e e s a rope on the ground, mistakes it for a snake, goes into an intense fear and a complete involvement as to what to do about this awful snake. Well, the snake is only an illusion. The real thing is a rope. So he spends a lifetime of maybe sixty-five years struggling and fighting this snake-world, and then takes a rest on the astral side and comes back and fights it again and again and again until he wakes up to the f a c t t h a t t h e s n a k e w a s o n l y t h e r o p e , a n d i t r e a l l y n e v e r w a s . A n d t h a t s e x a c t l y w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h i s p h y s i c a l w o r l d . I t s j u s t l i k e t h a t s n a k e , i t s a n i l l u s i o n . The example I like best is that what goes on in this world is exactly the same as what goes on in a n i g h t d r e a m . Wh i l e w e r e i n t h e n i g h t d r e a m , i t s v e r y r e a l , w e a r e t h e r e , t h e r e a r e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s , i t s e i t h e r b e a u t i f u l o r u g l y , a n d w h e n i t s a n i g h t m a r e , w e r e b e i n g k i l l e d . I t s a r e a l s t r u g g l e . A l l t h e t i m e w e r e i n t h e d r e a m , i t i s r e a l t o u s . B u t w h e n w e a w a k e n w e s a y , O h , m y g o s h , i t w a s o n l y a d r e a m , i t n e v e r r e a l l y w a s . A n d t h a t s e x a c t l y w h a t h a p p e n s w h e n w e w a k e u p o u t o f t h i s w a k i n g 40

state dream of the world. ***

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 T h e m o r e y o u q u i e t t h e m i n d , t h e m o r e y o u f e e l t h e S e l f a n d t h e b e t t e r y o u f e e l . Y o u f e e l a s g o o d a s y o u r m i n d i s q u i e t . Lester Levenson
Session 7 LOVE, GIVING AND THE CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS THE SECRET TO JOY L o v e a n d g i v i n g i n f a c t , a r e t w o w o r d s t h a t a r e s y n o n y m o u s . I t i s i n t h e s p i r i t o f g i v i n g n e s s t h a t the secret to joy lies. When we fully have, we want to give everything we have to everyone we meet w e h a v e i n f i n i t e j o y . I t i s s o i m p o r t a n t . I t i s i n t h e s p i r i t o f g i v i n g n e s s . T h i s d o e s n o t , o f c o u r s e , mean the givingness of things, which unfortunately, has become a lot of what Christmas is about. Christmas is related to Christ. Christ is not the man Jesus. Christ is the title Jesus attained, the Christ Consciousness. If you separate the two, Jesus and Christ, you will better understand the m e a n i n g o f H i s w o r d s a n d t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e B i b l e . Wh e n H e s a y s , I a mt h e w a y , H e i s n o t referring to himself as Jesus, but to the Christ Consciousness. Before going further, let me explain what I mean by Christ and Jesus. Jesus was obviously the man who was born on this earth approximately 2,000 years ago, who through righteousness or right-useness, rightly used the world to attain the Christ Consciousness. By so doing, He showed the way to immortality that each and every one of us must take. We must die to death, i.e., eliminate from our consciousness all thoughts of death and hold in its place only eternality and immortality. In order to show us, He allowed Himself to be crucified so that He could prove immortality by resurrecting Himself. He was a way-shower, and dedicated and gave His life to show us the way. Christ Consciousness is the consciousness that saves us from this mess that we find ourselves in when we try to be worldly. It is the attaining of the Christ Consciousness that saves us from all the horrors and miseries of the world. It is the Christ Consciousness that gives us liberation from all difficulty and leads us into our immortality. If we were to try to be Jesus, we would have all the trials and tribulations that He went through. However, when we become the Christ, being Christ-like and thereby attaining the Christ Consciousness, we eliminate every misery and have nothing but infinite joy. So Christhood is a state that was attained by the man Jesus. He attained His Christhood before He was born and He came back to show us the way by actual example. And if you will keep these two ideas, their meaning in mind as you read the Bible, I believe it will make much more sense. As a result of Christ Consciousness, Christmas is known primarily by the spirit of givingness, good w i l l t o w a r d a l l m e n . L o c k e d u p i n t h a t w o r d g i v i n g n e s s i s t h e k e y t o a l l h a p p i n e s s . I t i s i n t h e s p i r i t of givingness that we have and experience the greatest joy. In fact, if you reflect on your life for a moment, you will see that when you were giving, you were most joyous. Of course, the spiritual feeling of givingness is felt more around Christmas time than any other time of the year. And that is a wonderful thing. But, we should make every day Christmas. And when we g e t t o f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n , t h a t i s j u s t w h a t w e d o . T h e r e i s n t a m o m e n t i n w h i c h w e r e n o t g i v i n g everything we know to everyone.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: You mean giving things, or giving of yourself? L e s t e r : We l l , i f w e g i v e w i t h s t r i n g s a t t a c h e d , w i t h r e s e r v a t i o n s , w i t h r e c r i m i n a t i o n s , i t d o e s n t m a t t e r . T h e r e i s l i t t l e j o y i n i t . B u t w h e n w e g i v e f r e e l y , w e h a v e t h e g r e a t e s t o f f e e l i n g s . A n d i t s t h i s constant spirit of givingness that is the secret of eternal joy. Now, the greatest thing we can give, as the Bible says, is wisdom, because when you give one wisdom, you give not just one single thing, but you give one the method of attaining everything. So, the greatest of all givingness is giving wisdom, is giving understanding, is giving knowledge. I t h a s b e e n e x p l a i n e d i n t h i s w a y . I f y o u g i v e a m a n a m e a l w h e n h e s h u n g r y , h e s m a d e h a p p y f o r t h e m o m e n t a n d h e s s a t i s f i e d . B u t t h r e e h o u r s l a t e r , h e n e e d s a n o t h e r m e a l , a n d p r o b a b l y t h o u s a n d s o f meals after that. So, what is one meal that you give to him? Relatively little. However, if you give the man the understanding of how to produce a meal, he will never go hungry! You will give him the knowledge of how to always have all the food he wants. You will have given him sixty thousand m e a l s !S o , t h a t s t h e g r e a t e s t g i v i n g n e s s g i v i n g u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d w i s d o m . Practicing this would be an excellent method of growth. Give this understanding to everyone whom y o u m e e t w h o a s k s f o r i t . I t s e x c e l l e n t i n t h a t i t t a k e s y o u o u t o f y o u r l i t t l e s e l f i n t o t h e g r e a t e r s e l f . I t s a n a c t o f l o v e . I ms u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h i s g i v i n g n e s s b e t a k e n o n a s a w a y o f l i f e f r o mh e r e o n h e l p o t h e r s t o g e t t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I t w i l l h e l p y o u t o r a p i d l y a t t a i n m a s t e r s h i p a n d i t w i l l g i v e you the greatest of all joys. There is nothing wrong with giving other gifts. It is good to give, but they should be given from the heart. Still, I think we are all at the point where we can give much more than just things. We can give wisdom and understanding. Q: Should we give only if we are asked? Lester: It is sometimes a good idea, for if we try to help people who are not asking for it, we may be j u s t e x p r e s s i n g o u r o w n e g o . I k n o ws o m e t h i n g y o u s h o u l d k n o w , s e e ? I , t a l k i n g d o w n t o y o u , t r y i n g t o t e a c h y o u s o m e t h i n g w h e n y o u r e n o t a s k i n g f o r i t , i t c a n b e e g o e x p r e s s i o n o n m y p a r t . S o a good rule is to give it when it is asked for. Q: Is there a time when you become sensitive enough so that you do say things to people which they need, even without them asking? Lester: Yes, there is. As you let go of your ego, you automatically tune in more with others. You r e a c h a s t a t e i n w h i c h t h e y d o n t e v e n h a v e t o a s k . Y o u l l d i s c o v e r t h a t s o m e p e o p l e w h o a s k d o n t r e a l l y w a n t h e l p . L i k e w i s e , s o m e p e o p l e w h o s a y I d o n t w a n t a n y h e l p , a r e r e a l l y w a n t i n g i t . I t t a k e s a l i t t l e e x p e r i e n c e t o h a n d l e s i t u a t i o n s l i k e t h a t . B u t i t s t r u e t h a t a s w e g r o w , a s w e l e t g o o f o u r ego, we become more attuned to others and we automatically help them. And we help at all times, no matter what or where the situation is. It could be the cashier in a market, or someone you meet of the s t r e e t . T h e r e s a l w a y s a c e r t a i n g i v i n g n e s s t h a t s h o u l d b e g o i n g o n a l l t h e t i m e . A n d i t d o e s n t h a v e t o be only words of wisdom, it could be a kind word, an expression of love. I t w o u l d n t h u r t t o t r y h e l p i n g o t h e r s . T h a t w o u l d b e t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l g i v i n g n e s s . A n y m o r e questions? Q: What is the second coming of the Christ? Lester: The second coming of the Christ is not the same as the second coming of Jesus. The second coming of the Christ is when we attain the Christ Consciousness. As a group, we are very fortunate in that we are close to Jesus. Jesus is very interested in us, in trying to help us with all the power that He has. That power is never given unless we are receptive to
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i t . T h e r e s n o f o r c i n g i t . H e c a n o n l y u s e H i s p o w e r w h e n w e o p e n o u r s e l v e s t o H i m . I f a n d w h e n w e do, He is right there, ready and very capable. Just try Him. We need this direct connection with a m a s t e r i f w e w a n t t o g o a l l t h e w a y t h i s l i f e t i m e . A s I v e s a i d , i t s s o d i f f i c u l t i n t h e s e t i m e s t o a c h i e v e mastership, that it is necessary to have this connection with a master, so that when we are ready to l e a v e t h i s p l a n e , h e w i l l a s s i s t u s i n g e t t i n g f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n . T h e r e i s n t a n y o n e i n t h i s r o o mw h o cannot make it this lifetime, if he or she will just stay faithful to the path until the end. Everyone of us can make it this lifetime if we really want it. Q : Wi l l y o u d e f i n e m a k i n g i t ? L e s t e r : C h r i s t h o o d a n d f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n . Ma k i n g i t i s b e c o m i n g a m a s t e r . Wh a t i s a m a s t e r ?A master is one who is master over all matter in the universe, and who is master over his mind. A master is one who sees his own infinity right within him. A master is one who has undone all thoughts of limitation, who has ripped off all the sheaths of limitations and is free. Q: And this we can do in this lifetime? Lester: Yes, definitely! You must want it more than anything else. You must want it more than y o u w a n t t h i n g s o f t h e w o r l d . A n d i f y o u d o , w h e n y o u r e r e a d y t o l e a v e t h i s p l a c e , y o u l l g e t t h e assist from the master that you look to and he will help you over. The way he will do it is this: if you d o n t m a k e i t b e f o r e y o u d i e , y o u w i l l m a k e i t a t t h e t i m e o f y o u r s o c a l l e d d e a t h . Wh e n a p e r s o n d i e s , all thoughts of this lifetime and all thoughts of prior lifetimes come up for review. The master i d e n t i f i e s w i t h u s . H e s e e s u s a s h i m s e l f , a n d a s t h e s e t h o u g h t s c o m e u p i n o u r m i n d , i t s l i k e c o m i n g up in his mind, and he, identified with and as us, helps us undo them. When they are totally undone, we are totally free! Q : T h i s i s w h a t w e a r e d o i n g e v e r y d a y w h e n w e s a y , We r e n o t l i m i t e d . I w o n t a c c e p t t h i s . I m n o t t h i s l i m i t e d b e i n g . I s n t t h i s w h a t w e s h o u l d b e d o i n g a l l d a y l o n g ? Lester: Yes. We should continue it until the end of all thoughts. We should not be limited by any thing or any thought. Q : B u t t h i s i s j u m p i n g s o f a r . I mi n t e r e s t e d i n b e i n g a b l e t o w a l k d o w n t h e s t r e e t w i t h o u t g e t t i n g mad at the fellow in front of me. L e s t e r : I mt r y i n g t o s h o wy o u t h e e n t i r e w a y . Wh a t I mt r y i n g t o d o i s t o g i v e y o u a m a p t h a t t a k e s y o u a l l t h e w a y . I mn o t s a y i n g , B o b , b e t h i s t o d a y . B u t I t h i n k i f y o u h a v e a m a p t h a t s h o w s t h e e n t i r e r o u t e , y o u c a n t a k e i t a l l b y y o u r s e l f . Y o u d o n t n e e d t o h a v e p e o p l e l i k e m e s a y t h i s t o y o u . O n c e y o u h a v e t h e m a p , a l l y o u n e e d t o d o i s t o f o l l o wi t . I mt r y i n g t o g i v e y o u a c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e , a c o m p l e t e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n i s a n d t h e w a y t o a c c o m p l i s h i t . A n d i t s a v e r y d i f f i c u l t t h i n g t o d o b e c a u s e y o u l l n e v e r r e a l l y k n o ww h a t i t i s u n t i l y o u a t t a i n i t . Q: And the ego is simply the feeling that I am not this. Lester: Right. The ego is a feeling that I am a separated individual, separated from the All and I need a body and a mind to be separate. Q : T h a t s l i m i t e d ? Lester: Well, if I have a body and I have a mind, I have thousands of limitations; I have to feed the body, take care of it. I have thoughts. My feelings are hurt. This goes on and on and on. Realize what y o u a r e . Y o u l l s e e t h a t y o u a r e n o t t h e b o d y , y o u a r e n o t t h e e g o . D i s c o v e r w h a t y o u a r e a n d b e infinite.

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Q: Can Jesus save us? L e s t e r : J e s u s d o e s n t s a v e , t h e C h r i s t C o n s c i o u s n e s s s a v e s . We s h o u l d b e l i e v e n o t i n J e s u s b u t believe as Jesus believed. When we make an effort to attain the Christ Consciousness, Jesus helps us to realize it. Jesus is always available to anyone who asks and is receptive to His help. You can contact Jesus, to the degree you actually accept the fact that you can. Were you to accept that you could talk to Jesus in a physical body -- then you would meet with Him in a physical body. If you can accept meeting with Him in a vision or in a dream, then you would meet with Him in that manner. If you can accept Him as a presence, then you will feel His presence and receive His support. It is all up to you. ***

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 I f , w i t h i n t e n s e i n t e r e s t , y o u w a n t t o k n o w : Wh a t a mI ?Wh a t i s t h i s w o r l d ?Wh a t i s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ? i f t h e r e s a r e a l b u r n i n g d e s i r e t o g e t t h e a n s w e r , t h e n a l l o t h e r t h o u g h t s d r o p a w a y a n d t h e m i n d b e c o m e s e x t r e m e l y c o n c e n t r a t e d . Lester Levenson

Session 8 EGO The ego concept is the root cause of all delusion and therefore, all trouble. It is the false identifying o f I w i t h a b o d y r a t h e r t h a n w i t h t h e S e l f . Wh a t f o l l o w s a r e s o m e t h o u g h t s a n d r e f l e c t i o n s o n e g o and limitation. Again it is suggested that they be digested slowly. Read one, pause, let it work within you and then move on. *** E g o i s t h e c o n c e p t o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y , o f s e p a r a t i o n f r o mt h e I , t h e A l l . T h e r e f o r e , e g o i s a f a l s e a s s u m p t i o n . We a r e r e a l l y t h e I , w e a r e n o t s e p a r a t e f r o mi t . *** The ego is the source of birth and death and when the ego is let go of, you die to death. *** E v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s n t g o o d h a s i t s s o u r c e i n t h e e g o s e n s e a n d i s t h e r e f o r e u n r e a l . O u r r e a l n a t u r e i s an ultimate goodness. *** Everything of the ego is the opposite of everything of the Self. *** Everything an ego sees is a distortion in the light of Truth. Everything an ego sees is in duality. An e g o c a n t s e e O n e n e s s . T h e e g o h a s a n e y e o f d u a l i t y o n l y . T h e r e s n o t h i n g t r u e t h a t a n e g o s e e s . A n d on the opposite side, the Self sees only the Truth, the Self. *** The coloring agent of Truth is ego. The less the ego, the less the coloring of Truth. *** The entire trouble is wrong identity. We say we are the limited ego.

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*** E g o c a n t d o a n y t h i n g b u t b e l i m i t e d . *** T h e r e s o n l y o n e s i n g l e g r o w t h a n d t h a t i s l e t t i n g g o o f t h e e g o . *** Whenever you are not growing spiritually, you are growing in the other direction. *** Every time you express ego, you are growing downward. *** The more you grow, the more you can face your ego. *** When things bother us and we look for the source, we find our ego. *** The whole object of the path is to let go of the ego. What remains is the Self. *** The whole thing is simple. Any complexity in life is the ego trying to undo the simplicity of Reality. *** It is the ego that makes life difficult. *** The more you think you are a limited ego, the more effort you need to get along. It is the ego that requires effort. *** There is only one basic trouble in this world. It is the common denominator of all problems. It is trying to be an ego. ***
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Identify with the ego and you identify with trouble. *** We should shift from a desire to get out of misery, to a desire to let go of the ego. *** The ego dies hard. But once you know the ego is the source of all misery and the Self is the source o f a l l h a p p i n e s s , t h e n i t s h o u l d n t b e s o h a r d t o w o r k a t l e t t i n g g o o f t h e e g o . *** When we start moving into the Self, the ego starts putting blocks in the way: we get sick, we go to sleep, we have other things to do, etc., because we feel we will be destroyed if the ego is destroyed. We have convinced ourselves over the millenniums that we are these limited bodies, and we think it takes time to let go of these concepts of limitation. *** Time is an ego-thought. *** The ego will always try to keep us from letting go of the ego. *** Getting involved in intellectual questions and discussions validates the ego and avails you nothing. *** Pose a question and ego is necessitated. There are no questions when one is realized. *** A l l e n q u i r i e s a b o u t t h e n o n S e l f a r e d i r e c t i n g o n e s a t t e n t i o n a w a y f r o m , a n d a r e d e l a y i n g o n e s realization of Truth. Any question about the ego directs the attention to the ego. The ego is the unreal, the untruth. No matter how much you talk about illusion, it will not give you the perception of the R e a l t h e T r u t h . *** In the beginning, the ego is the only thing you know. *** T h e r e i s o n l y o n e t h i n g t o d o l e t g o o f t h e e g o !T h e r e i s n o o t h e r w a y t o g r o w . Y o u a r e f u l l y
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r e a l i z e d n o w !J u s t l e t g o o f t h e e g o !T h a t s h o ws i m p l e i t i s . *** The weaker the ego, the more you can put attention on the Self. However, if you spent all your time on the ego, you would never see the Self, not until you looked at the Self. It amounts to weakening the grip of the ego enough so that you can turn toward the Self. *** The more you do away with the ego, the more unselfish you are. *** When a person is ego-centered, almost all of his attention is centered on himself. Everything he sees or hears is colored because it has to filter through his self-attention. *** When you have completely let go of your ego, you are not interested in yourself, you are interested only in others. *** If you do things to win approval, then you are doing it for yourself. If you are doing anything for y o u r s e l f , i t i s n t s e l f l e s s . *** A problem is created whenever you want to assert your ego. *** Whenever we react, it is always because there is something we selfishly want. *** When there is no ego involved, we see things exactly as they are. *** We are blinded to the degree of our ego. *** Wanting our ego to be accepted, we see things the way we think they will help us to be accepted. ***

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If you have any emotion, it is ego motivated. *** Any human need or desire is ego motivated. My ego thinks it needs things. My Self feels and knows that everything is mine. *** We should have no wants. Then we are never in trouble. *** T a l k i n g i s a s k i n g f o r e g o a t t e n t i o n . I t s w a n t i n g e g o a p p r o v a l . I f y o u w i l l r e m a i n q u i e t , y o u m a y feel that happiness that you are seeking through making the noise. *** Almost every time we talk, we are asking for ego acceptance. *** Ego is only destructive to one. *** Everyone who has ego is destructive to the degree he has ego. *** Ego is the opposite of Love. Love is the Self. *** Egos want to direct the universe. *** If you want to be most creative, do away with ego. *** Ego is the most expensive thing in the universe, dollar-and-sense wise. *** Any sense of doership is of the little self.

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*** Ego equals blindness. Blindness equals ignorance. *** Seeking any ego fulfillment is seeking the letting go of the agony of the concept of lack. *** Any lack is necessarily an ego concept for the ego is necessarily a sense of limitation or lack. *** Ego is a mere notion that feels like the deluge of an ocean. *** When you are unhappy, you are looking for ego approval and not getting it. *** Another definition for trouble is trying to be an ego. *** Any defending of oneself is asking for ego approval. *** If you want to be good at anything, the less the ego, the better you are. The ego is a limiting adjunct on the Self. Since the ego is a limiting adjunct of the Self, the less the ego, the more capable you are in e v e r y t h i n g ( e x c e p t o n e t h i n g m i s e r y . ) *** It took you millions of years to develop this ego. Keep letting go of the ego until you begin to see the Self. When you see your Self, you quickly drop your ego in short time. *** After having eliminated much of the ego, when one is acting ego-wise, at that moment the ego seems like all. However, what has been eliminated, has been eliminated. *** I t s t h e e g o s e n s e o f b e i n g a n i n d i v i d u a l s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l t h a t i s t h e s o u r c e o f a l l t r o u b l e .

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*** I t d o e s n t m a t t e r w h a t y o u d o , i t d o e s m a t t e r w i t h w h a t y o u i d e n t i f y . I f y o u i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e l i m i t e d ego, then you are unhappy. *** After dropping enough ego, it gets weak and the Self takes us the rest of the way. *** All growth is letting go of ego. *** T h e e g o i s a f a l s e i m p o s i t i o n o f t h e I . Wh e n y o u s a y , I , t h a t i s t h e e t e r n a l y o u . *** The ego cannot be subjugated by one. *** Seek the source of the ego and it turns out to be your Self. *** Humility is letting go of ego. *** I f y o u a r e h u r t , l o o k f o r t h e e g o m o t i v a t i o n a n d l e t g o o f i t . Y o u l l f e e l h a p p i e r . *** U n l e s s y o u a r e e l i m i n a t i n g e g o , y o u r e n o t g r o w i n g . Y o u s e e , y o u c a n t g r o wi n t o t h e S e l f b e c a u s e t h a t s w h a t y o u a r e . Y o u j u s t l i f t o f f t h e c o v e r , w h i c h i s e g o . *** The ego creates and maintains the subconscious. *** All subconscious thought is originated by the ego and hidden away in the subconscious by the ego. ***

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The ego-principle is the cause of the seeming separation of you from the All. *** The high states should be used to scorch the ego. The higher we go, the more we are capable of s c o r c h i n g t h e e g o . Wh e n y o u a r e h i g h , y o u c a n s a y , A l l t h i s s i l l y r e a c t i o n a n d e g o , I mt h r o u g h w i t h i t ! a n d b e t h r o u g h w i t h i t . *** The real you, your Self, is infinitely grand and glorious, whole, perfect and in total peace, and you are blinding yourself to this by assuming that you are a limited ego. Drop the blinder, the ego, and be forever in perfect peace and joy! *** Be your self! ***

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 I f y o u w a n t t o k n o ww h a t y o u r s u mt o t a l t h i n k i n g n e s s i s , l o o k a r o u n d y o u . Wh a t y o u n o wh a v e i s a r e s u l t o f w h a t y o u h a v e t h o u g h t . Lester Levenson
Session 9 MASTERING MIND AND MATTER THE ULTIMATE HAPPINESS O u r s u b j e c t i s h a p p i n e s s . We c a n s a y t h a t w h e n i t i s u n d e r s t o o d , H a p p i n e s s a s w e l l a s G o d , R e a l i z a t i o n , Wi s d o m , a n d U n d e r s t a n d i n g b e c o m e t h e s a m e . We c a n a l s o s a y t h a t w h a t w e a r e seeking is the real infinite Being that each one is. And when we recognize this, we then attempt to d i s c o v e r t h i s i n n e r B e i n g t h a t w e a r e u n t i l w e s e e i t c o m p l e t e l y , t o t a l l y a n d d o o n l y i t . Wh e n w e d o , t h e u l t i m a t e H a p p i n e s s i s e s t a b l i s h e d p e r m a n e n t l y , a n d f o r e v e r . A n d w i t h i t s e s t a b l i s h m e n t c o m e s immortality, unlimitedness, imperturbable peace, total freedom and everything else that everyone is seeking. We get to this inner Being by directing our attention inward. First we focus the mind back upon the mind until we discover what mind is. Then we focus our attention on our Self to discover our real nature. And it turns out that our real nature, the infinite real Self that we are, is simply us minus the mind. We discover that the mind was a limiting adjunct covering our Beingness; that all thoughts have limitation which prevent us from seeing this infinite Being that we are. By turning our attention inward we discover all this. When we do, we let go of all these limitations easily and naturally and see that we have always been, are now, and always will be, this unlimited Being. The prime obstacle we meet in seeking this unlimited being is the subconscious mind. It is full of thoughts of limitations which propel us every day and they do so automatically. We have made these habits of subconscious thoughts so strong that even when we recognize the direction we would like to go in, the subconscious thoughts keep directing us for quite some time (sometimes lifetimes) until we finally succeed in overcoming them. We overcome them with thoughts of what we really want to do in l i f e , a n d i n t h a t w a y w e b e c o m e m a s t e r o v e r t h e m i n d , c o n t r o l l i n g a n d e l i m i n a t i n g t h e t h o u g h t s u n t i l o n l y t h e t h o u g h t s w e w a n t d e t e r m i n e o u r b e h a v i o r . T h e n w e r e i n a p o s i t i o n w h e r e w e c a n d o something about the mind. We can start to transcend the mind, rising above it and dropping it. In short we let it go! And when we do we find ourselves this pure, infinite, limitless, totally free Being that we naturally are. Then happiness is complete. As I said the direction to go in is within, seeking and meditating to quiet the mind enough so that we can see the infinite Being that we are. The first step involves becoming aware of the fact that we are master over matter (and matter includes the body). The second step involves becoming master over mind. And when we become really masterful over mind we are able to let go of mind and operate in the realm of omniscience, in the realm of knowingness. Then we are fully aware of the infinite Being that we are, and we discover the ultimate Happiness.

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CONSCIOUSLY CONTROLLING MATTER L e t s l o o k m o r e c l o s e l y a t t h e f i r s t s t e p , c o n s c i o u s l y c o n t r o l l i n g m a t t e r . Wh e t h e r w e a r e a w a r e of it or not, we are controlling matter all the time. Whether one wants to be a creator or not, one is. In fact, it is impossible to not be a creator all the time. We are creating everyday. We are not aware of it because we just do not look at it. We have demonstrated or created everything we have! Every thought, every single thought, materializes in the physical world. It is impossible to have a thought that will not materialize (except that we reverse it). If we think the opposite right after we have a thought, with equal strength, we neutralize it. But any thought not reversed or neutralized will materialize in the future, if not immediately. S o t h i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n t h a t w e a r e a l l t r y i n g s o h a r d t o a c c o m p l i s h , w e a r e d o i n g a l l t h e t i m e a n d are unconscious of the fact that we are doing it. All we need to do is to consciously direct it, and that we call demonstration. Everything that everyone has in life is a demonstration. It could not come into our experience if we had not had a thought of it at some prior time. If you want to know what your sum total thinkingness is, just look around you. What you now have is a result of what you have thought. It is your demonstration! If you like it, you may hold it. If you do not, and want to change some part of it, start changing your thinking subconscious to the contrary. Concentrate it in the direction that you really want, allowing the thoughts to come up and let them go until the conscious thoughts become dominant over the subconscious thoughts. And when you begin to consciously demonstrate small things, you may then realize that the only reason why they are small i s b e c a u s e y o u d o n t d a r e t o t h i n k b i g . T h e e x a c t s a m e r u l e , o r p r i n c i p l e , t h a t a p p l i e s t o d e m o n s t r a t i n g a penny, applies to demonstrating a million dollars. The mind sets the size. Anyone who can demonstrate a dollar, can demonstrate a million dollars! Become aware of the way you are demonstrating a one dollar bill and just increase it next time to a much larger amount. Take on the consciousness of the million, rather than the one dollar bill. The material world is just an outward projection of our mind into what we call the world. And when we realize that it is just an outward projection of our minds, just a picture out there that we have created, we begin to understand how easily we can change it, even instantly, by changing our thought! So, to repeat, everyone is demonstrating, creating, every moment what he or she is thinking. We have no choice. We are creator, so long as we have a mind and we think, we are a creator.

BEYOND CREATION N o w , t o g e t b e y o n d c r e a t i o n , a n d t h e r e i s a h i g h e r s t a t e t h a n c r e a t i o n , i t s t h e s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s sometimes called awareness or consciousness. We must go beyond the mind, and just beyond the mind there is a realm of perfection where there is no need for creating. The mind finds it very difficult to imagine what it is like beyond creation, because the mind is involved constantly in creating. It is the creating instrument of the universe and everything that happens in the world. So if we take this thing called mind, the instrument which is only a creator, and try to imagine what it is like beyond creation, it is impossible. The mind will never know God or your Self, because you have to go just above the mind to know God, your Self. To know the infinite Being that you are, to know what it is like beyond creation, we must transcend the mind. Here we find the final state, the changeless state. In creation everything is constantly changing, and therefore the ultimate Truth cannot be there. So, to demonstrate what one wants, one needs to become aware of the fact that all we need to do is t o t h i n k o n l y o f t h e t h i n g s t h a t w e d o w a n t a n d t h a t i s a l l t h a t w e w o u l d g e t i f w e w o u l d d o j u s t t h a t . O n l y t h i n k o f t h e t h i n g s w e w a n t a n d t h a t s w h a t w e l l b e g e t t i n g a l l t h e t i m e . S i m p l e , i s n t i t ?
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A l s o , t a k e c r e d i t f o r c r e a t i n g a l l t h e t h i n g s t h a t y o u d o n o t l i k e . J u s t s a y , L o o k w h a t I d i d . Because when you become aware that you have created things that you do not like, you are in the position of creator, and if you do not like it, all you have to do is to reverse it and then you will like it. After you can master matter by consciously creating that which you want, then master your mind and get beyond it. Any questions?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: Am I to assume that everything that I see and meet during the day has been created by subconscious thoughts? Lester: Yes. The difficult thing is the unconscious thinking. Every unconscious thought is active whether we are aware of it or not. Q : S o , i f I h a v e a h a b i t o f h a v i n g s o m e o n e w h o d o e s n t p a y r e n t , t h i s i s a s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t t h a t was put there by parents or someone before. L e s t e r : N o , p u t t h e r e b e f o r e b y y o u i t s y o u r t h o u g h t . Q : S o i t s b e s t t o l o o k a t i t a n d s a y , Wh e r e d i d t h i s h a b i t u a l t h o u g h t c o m e f r o m , a n d b y l o o k i n g a t it, I can see where it came from and erase it from my consciousness and erase that particular habit or thought? L e s t e r : Y e s . P u t t i n g i t a l i t t l e b e t t e r , r a t h e r t h a n s e e i n g w h e r e i t c a m e f r o m , s e e i n g t h a t i t s b e e n i n you. Then you see how silly it is to have this thought working against you and you automatically drop it. Q : I w i s h I c o u l d . I j u s t d o n t a u t o m a t i c a l l y d r o p i t . L e s t e r : N o , y o u d o n t . T h e r e i s n t j u s t o n e t h o u g h t o n e a c h s u b j e c t , t h e r e a r e m i l l i o n s . I d o n t l i k e t o s a y t h i s , b u t t h e r e a r e m i l l i o n s t h a t y o u v e a c q u i r e d o v e r m a n y m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s . Q: If I have a habit of having something reoccur in my life, let us say a delay in getting things done, which is quite common in my business, is this purely my consciousness? Lester: Yes. Q : A n d i t s n o n s e n s e t o s a y t h i s i s t h e w a y r e a l e s t a t e p e o p l e o p e r a t e , i s n t i t ?I v e g o t t o l o o k a t m y c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d i f I s a y t h i s i s n o n s e n s e b e c a u s e i t s m y t h i n k i n g , I c a n e l i m i n a t e t h i s t y p e o f delay. L e s t e r : Y e s . I t s p o s s i b l e . Q : H o wd o e s o n e e l i m i n a t e r e o c c u r r i n g c o n d i t i o n s i n o n e s l i f e ? Lester: By constantly working to undo it. Looking for the subconscious thoughts that are causing it and dropping them. Q : I t s m y t h o u g h t s ; I d o n t l o o k a t a n y t h i n g b u t m y o w n t h i n k i n g . L e s t e r : Y e s . N o wt h e r e i s a n o t h e r w a y , a b e t t e r w a y . I f y o u c a n t p u l l u p t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s , y o u c a n n o wp u t i n a c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t w i t h s t r o n g w i l l s o s t r o n g l y t h a t i t o v e r r i d e s a l l the prior unconscious thoughts. This is possible. This is called using will power. You can will it. A n d i f y o u w i l l i t s t r o n g e n o u g h , i t l l o v e r r i d e a l l t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s . Wh e n y o u r e f e e l i n g
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h i g h , t h a t s w h e n y o u h a v e y o u r g r e a t e s t w i l l . J u s t w i l l i t t o b e t h e w a y y o u w a n t i t t o b e . T h e m e c h a n i s mi s : Y o u p u t i n a t h o u g h t w i t h s o m u c h p o w e r b e h i n d i t t h a t i t s m o r e p o w e r f u l t h a n a l l t h e former subconscious thoughts put together. Q: A man died last night and he left $25,000,000! And the man next door had nothing. He died and went to heaven. L e s t e r : I t s e a s i e r t o g e t t o h e a v e n w h e n y o u d o n t h a v e $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 h o l d i n g y o u h e r e . Q : I t s e a s i e r t o g o , i f y o u d o n t h a v e $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ? L e s t e r : T h a t s r i g h t . H e s a t t a c h e d t o t h a t t w e n t y f i v e . H e s t r y i n g t o h o l d o n t o i t r i g h t n o w , e v e n t h o u g h h e i s d e a d . A n d w h e n h e t r i e s t o p i c k i t u p , h i s a s t r a l h a n d s g o r i g h t t h r o u g h i t a n d h e s i n t r o u b l e . I t h o l d s h i mb a c k , w h e r e a s a m a n w h o d i d n t h a v e a n y t h i n g w i l l j u s t g o o f f i n t o h i g h e r , f r e e r realms. Q : Y o u m e a n n o wt h a t h e h a s s o c a l l e d d i e d , h e c a n s t i l l b e a t t a c h e d t o h i s m o n e y ? Lester: Oh sure! What he was the moment before he died, he is the moment after, except for the fact that he has let go of the dense body. The physical body is an exact copy of the astral body. And when you step out of the physical body, it feels the same to you and you try to do the things that you w e r e d o i n g j u s t b e f o r e i n t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y i f y o u h a v e a t t a c h m e n t s t o t h e p h y s i c a l w o r l d . I f y o u d o n t h a v e a t t a c h m e n t s , y o u a d a p t m u c h e a s i e r t o t h e f r e e r w a y o f l i f e , i n t h e a s t r a l b o d y . Q: I like your explanation of creation. Lester: For the intellectuals, there are schools that argue this way: Is creation gradual or is it instantaneous? Q : I t s g r a d u a l b e c a u s e . . . L e s t e r : T h e m i n d t o y s i t s g r a d u a l . A n d i f y o u k e e p t h i n k i n g a b o u t i t , y o u l l d i s c o v e r t h a t c r e a t i o n i s i n s t a n t a n e o u s . A n d t h e i n s t a n t a n e i t y a l s o h a s t h e c o n c e p t o f t i m e i n i t . T h a t s j u s t s o m e t h i n g I m throwing out for you to work on, if you want to. Q : A n i n s t a n t y o u r e c o n f i n i n g i t t o a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f t i m e ; y o u a r e l i m i t i n g i t . L e s t e r : I l l g i v e y o u a c l u e . Y o u w e n t t o s l e e p a n d y o u d r e a m t t h a t y o u w e r e b o r n e i n t o a l i t t l e infant body and you went through one year, two years, three years, into youth, middle age and old age, all the way up to ninety years. It took ninety years to get up to that old body. It was a long, long time r i g h t ?n i n e t y y e a r s ? u n t i l y o u w o k e u p a n d t h e n r e a l i z e d i t w a s a d r e a ma n d i t m i g h t h a v e t a k e n a second or two. The dream lasted a few seconds and in that time you went through a ninety-year p e r i o d !A n d i t s e e m e d l i k e n i n e t y y e a r s w h i l e y o u w e r e i n t h e d r e a m . I t w a s n t u n t i l y o u w o k e u p t h a t y o u r e a l i z e d i t w a s o n l y a f e ws e c o n d s . S o m e d a y y o u l l s e e t h a t c r e a t i o n i s i n s t a n t a n e o u s , w i t h t h e mental concept of time in it. Q: How do you equate our effort in trying to create that which we might desire with the statements, S e e k y e f i r s t t h e k i n g d o mo f G o d a n d a l l g o o d t h i n g s w i l l b e a d d e d u n t o y o u , a n d T h i n k n o t o f w h a t y o u s h a l l e a t a n d w h e r e y o u s h a l l s l e e p ? L e s t e r : We l l , i t f i t s i n . S e e k y e f i r s t t h e k i n g d o mo f G o d , God is the essence of our very beingness. If we seek and discover it, we find the secret of everything. So, seek ye first the kingdom of God, go within, discover who and what you are, then you have the secret to everything, not only to c r e a t i n g b u t t o e v e r y t h i n g . B u t y o u s e e , t h a t s b e e n p a r t o f s e v e r a l y e a r s o f w h a t w e h a v e b e e n g o i n g through as a group: how to go within and discover this infinite Being that we are, which is the God57

p a r t o f u s . A n d w h e n t h i s i n f i n i t e B e i n g i s d i s c o v e r e d , e v e r y t h i n g i s k n o w n h o wt o c r e a t e , a n d m o r e t h a n t h a t h o wt o u n c r e a t e . A n d s t i l l m o r e i m p o r t a n t , h o wt o g e t b e y o n d c r e a t i n g a n d u n c r e a t i n g w h i c h i s t h e u l t i m a t e s t a t e . T h e n y o u w i l l n o t t h i n k o f w h a t y o u s h a l l e a t a n d w h e r e y o u shall sleep. Did I connect it for you? Q : U n t i l y o u r e a c h t h e h i g h e r s t a t e , I w o n d e r i f i t i s n t p o s s i b l e t o g e t c a u g h t u p i n s t i l l t r y i n g t o create before you become aware of the higher state? Lester: Yes, I say that you are caught up in trying to create. You now have no choice whether to be a creator, you are that all the time. You should now consciously create only the things you want and s t o p c r e a t i n g t h e t h i n g s y o u d o n t w a n t . O n e o f t h e g r o s s e s t e r r o r s w e m a k e i s t r y i n g t o c r e a t e i n t h e future: I will have this, I will get that, and when we do that, it keeps it in the future, thereby giving it distance from us. This is the greatest stumbling block for most people. When you create something, it h a s t o b e s e e n i n p r e s e n t t i m e , i n i t s i s n e s s n o w . I t i s m i n e , n o w ! Q : We l l , e v e n i f I c a n t b e l i e v e t h a t I m a y b e g o i n g t o h a v e s o m e t h i n g , a t l e a s t I c a n b e l i e v e t h a t t h e t h o u g h t i s m i n e , s o , i f I b u i l d o n T h e t h o u g h t i s m i n e , t h i s g i v e s m e m o r e f o u n d a t i o n . Lester: Yes. Discover who the thinker is. Q: What happens when you reach the desireless state? Lester: Well, what is desire? Desire comes from thinking we are not the All. When you reach the d e s i r e l e s s s t a t e , y o u s e e y o u r s e l f a s t h e A l l , a s t h e s u mt o t a l , a n d t h e r e s n o m o r e n e e d , t h e r e s n o m o r e l a c k e v e r y t h i n g i s y o u . I t s n o t y o u r s y o u a r e i t ! Q : S o , i t s a s t a t e o f s e e k y e f i r s t t h e k i n g d o mo f G o d a n d a l l t h i s s h a l l b e a d d e d u n t o y o u . Lester: Everything, every last atom in the universe. Please note that most of your questions have been on havingness, the havingness of things. This indicates what you think happiness is. However, you will discover that should you obtain all the things you desire, you would still find yourself not happy. You must go beyond the havingness state and reach the beingness realm where you only are. There you know you lack nothing and that you are the infinite All. There lies the ultimate joy which is a deep a n d a m o s t p r o f o u n d , P e a c e t h e u l t i m a t e S a t i a t i o n !

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 T h e m o r e y o u q u i e t t h e m i n d , t h e m o r e y o u f e e l t h e S e l f a n d t h e b e t t e r y o u f e e l . Y o u f e e l a s g o o d a s y o u r m i n d i s q u i e t . Lester Levenson
Session 10 THE MIND The mind is an instrument created by you to image the Oneness separated into many interrelated parts. Here are some thoughts on the mind for your reflection. Trust them as you have the other reflections. Allow them to serve you. Let them build one upon another. *** The mind is simply the sum total composite of all thoughts. *** The mind becomes habitual. *** The subconscious mind is merely the thoughts that we are not looking at now. *** T h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d i s r u n n i n g u s m a k i n g u s t h e v i c t i m s o f h a b i t . *** The thing that keeps us from recognizing and expressing our infinity is simply the mind, conscious and subconscious. If we are to express this infinite nature, we can do it only by getting behind this mind. When we reach the realm behind the mind we operate without thoughts, intuitively, and are in harmony with the whole universe. *** T h e d i r e c t i o n i s t o s t i l l t h e m i n d . Q u i e t t h e m i n d a n d y o u l l s e e y o u r i n f i n i t y r i g h t t h e r e . *** J u s t l e t g o o f t h e m i n d c o m p l e t e l y a n d w h a t s l e f t o v e r i s y o u r i n f i n i t e b e i n g n e s s , a l l k n o w i n g , a l l powerful, everywhere present. ***

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Were we to direct all our energies to stilling our mind, we would soon be realized. *** The mind quiets spontaneously in the company of a great soul. *** T h e m o r e y o u q u i e t t h e m i n d , t h e m o r e y o u f e e l t h e S e l f a n d t h e b e t t e r y o u f e e l . Y o u f e e l a s g o o d as your mind is quiet. *** When the mind vanishes, there the Self is. Where the Self is, there is no mind. *** The mind is reflected consciousness, reflected from its source, the Self, just like the light from the moon is reflected from the sun. While the moonlight may be used to reveal objects, it is no more needed when the sun rises. Although the moon may remain in the sky while the sun shines, it is dim and useless. Likewise, the mind is useless when we let the Self shine. *** Your mind is an instrument used to identify your real Self with your body and world. *** If you do not identify with your body or mind, neither your body nor your thoughts will affect you. So it is when you sleep. Not identifying with your body or mind you have no problems nor suffering. *** In meditation one subdues the mind and feels the wonderful peace of the Self. This is the start. The finish is the total dissolution of the mind. This is accomplished by recognizing the mind as not being apart from the Self, by seeing it as a phantom product of the Self. *** I n t h i s d r e a m i l l u s i o n t h e r e s a t h i n g c a l l e d t h o u g h t . A n d t h o u g h t d e t e r m i n e s a n d i s t h e c a u s e o f a l l matter. *** In your imagination you have written and projected a cinema show of acts, actors and audiences on a screen and have lost sight of the fact that it is all in your imagination, your mind. Discover this and you discover the absolute Truth. ***
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The world and universe are a mental concoction. *** Mind subsidence is Realization. There are two ways to obtain it. On recognizing what the mind really is, it is seen as an illusion and therefore subsides. By concentrating on your Self and discovering You, mind also subsides. Complete subsidence is full Realization. *** The reason thoughts wander back into the world is because we believe the world is real. But for this belief, Realization would be! *** Mind distraction is wanting more the things of the world than the Self. Wanting more to hold your Self, the world is not looked at! *** A thought is an assumption of lack causing a wish to fulfill it. *** A l l t h o u g h t s a r e o f n o n t r u t h . I t s s o s i m p l e . Y o u j u s t s t o p t h e t h o u g h t s a n d t h e i n f i n i t y t h a t y o u a r e is self-obvious. *** Y o u v e g o t t o u s e t h e m i n d t o q u i e t t h e m i n d . Y o u n e e d t o u s e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o s t i l l i t . *** When you begin concentrating on the mind, you begin rising above it. *** O n c e y o u s e e w h a t t h e m i n d i s , y o u w o n t b e s u b j e c t t o i t a n y m o r e . *** Strength of mind is the ability to concentrate undistractedly on a single thought. *** Without concentrated mind, progress is relatively small.

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*** Aw a n d e r i n g , w a i v e r i n g m i n d i s o n e t h a t d i s s i p a t e s o n e s e n e r g y i n t h e f o r mo f m a n y t h o u g h t s . Hold one thought and the energy is less dissipated and more conserved. Direct this conserved energy toward the Self and your Self will be revealed. The more you do this, the stronger becomes your direction and the easier it becomes to abide in your Self. *** In the beginning, the mind pursues the Self intermittently between long intervals. As one continues, the intervals shorten. Toward the end, the mind is constant in the pursuit and does not wander from it. *** The power of the mind is almost infinite. When there is only one thought all that power is right there. *** Restless thoughts keep the Great Ones away. A quiet mind keeps the door open to them. *** The more you eliminate mind, the more peace you feel. *** T h e m i n d w i l l n e v e r d i s c o v e r t h e S e l f b e c a u s e t h e m i n d i s t h e c o v e r u p o v e r t h e S e l f . I t s o n l y b y letting go of the mind that the Self is seen. You get the mind quiet enough to allow your Self to be obvious to you so that you may use It to let go of the mind. *** Eliminating what you are not is growth. *** The biggest difficulty is the subconscious mind. We have relegated things to the subconscious, stored them there, and thrown away the key. *** If we could make our subconscious fully conscious, we would be fully realized. *** Every mind uses the very same unlimited intelligence. Everyone uses it as much as he believes he can use it to fulfill his desires. When he learns that his mental limitations are self imposed, he lets go
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of them. Then his intelligence (I.Q.) can be raised to the degree of no limitation. *** We are all in the same mind and the only thing that keeps us from reading the other one is that our attention is too centered on our own little self. *** Everyone unconsciously reads everyone else and thinks that it is their own thoughts. *** All minds are influencing each other. *** A high-level mind tunes in with other minds of high level. A low-level mind tunes in with other minds of low level. *** Mi n d i s c a t c h y . I t s i m m e d i a t e l y i n f e c t i o u s . *** Thought is a mechanism of limitation. *** The only intelligence the mind has is what you give to it. *** Thoughts smother the capacity to be happy. *** Every thought causes a demonstration. *** T h e r e s n o l i m i t t o t h e n u m b e r o f n e wi d e a s t h a t m a n c a n h a v e . *** Anything man can think, can be. ***
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You use your mind to still your mind. When you are meditating, holding one thought, other thoughts drop away. *** Mind is always seeking external knowledge. Direct it internally. *** Introvert the mind and realize to full realization. *** The ego-mind struggles for survival and tries to subvert your direction. *** T h e m i n d c a n n o t g i v e t h e u l t i m a t e a n s w e r b e c a u s e i t s p a r t o f t h e e g o , p a r t o f o u r l i m i t a t i o n . *** Real knowledge lies just behind thought, which is relative knowledge, and relative knowledge is ignorance. *** When the Self, which is just behind the mind, is discovered, you see that the mind is limited and let go of it. *** There is a mind that runs this planet. There is a mind that runs the solar system and a mind that runs the universe. All these minds are in the illusion. *** Where is the world without your mind? Is there such a thing as world when you submerge the mind? The thought of the world creates it. This whole solid universe that you mentally say is a solid universe is just your thought that it is a solid universe. *** Anything your mind is absolutely convinced of, materializes instantly. *** Mind can do anything with the body.
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*** The utmost that the intellect and reasoning can do for us is first, recognize its limitations and secondly, do that which helps the quest for the Self. *** Every thought is an affliction. When the thought waves are completely stilled there are no more afflictions. *** Every thought is motivated by a desire for pleasure or an aversion to pain. *** Letting go of all attachments and aversions is letting go of all your thoughts. *** Thought and desire are the same. *** The only thing we are aware of is our own thoughts. *** Wh a t w e r e s e e i n g o u t t h e r e i s o u r o w n m i n d . *** T h a t w h i c h y o u r e a l l y w a n t y o u n e v e r f o r g e t i t s a l w a y s o n y o u r m i n d . R e a l l y w a n t t o d i s c o v e r your Self. *** The mind is the brain of the astral and causal bodies. *** The mind can be made quiet wherever you are. The place to do it is right where you are. *** D o n t m i n d t h e m i n d a n d t h e m i n d w o n t n e e d m i n d i n g ! ***
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T h e m i n d i s n o t m a d e n o i s i e r i t s j u s t t h a t y o u g e t q u i e t e n o u g h t o n o t i c e h o wn o i s y i t i s .

*** Everything falls perfectly into line effortlessly and harmoniously without thoughts. *** As mind gets quiet, first the sense of havingness decreases until a measure of security is felt. It becomes less necessary to have in order to be. Then the sense of doership decreases until a further security is felt in that one is not the real doer, that the real doer is a higher power, that one can actually be with much less doing and it becomes less necessary to do in order to be. Finally your real Self that has always been in the background steps in and takes over and you feel that there is nothing necessary any more that you must have or do, that there is no choice but to only be! *** U s e o m n i s c i e n c e , d o n t u s e t h e m i n d !T h e g o a l i s t o e l i m i n a t e t h e m i n d . *** If there are no thoughts then there is no mind. Mind is only thoughts. *** I f y o u t a k e a w a y y o u r m i n d w h a t s l e f t o v e r i s O m n i s c i e n c e . Y o u a r e t h a t o m n i s c i e n t B e i n g t h a t you are seeking, clouded over by mind. *** Mind detached from world and centered only on Self is Liberation. *** Depth of meditation is the degree of quietude of mind. *** U n l e s s w e r e e l i m i n a t i n g m i n d , u n l e s s w e r e e l i m i n a t i n g e g o , w e r e n o t p r o g r e s s i n g . *** The more we keep looking into the mind, the quieter we become. ***

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Wh e r e t h e m i n d i s a l l q u i e t t h e r e i s a l l k n o w l e d g e . *** Knowing the mind is full Realization. *** T h e f i r s t t h o u g h t o f a l l t h o u g h t s i s I a ma n i n d i v i d u a l s e p a r a t e . I n o r d e r f o r t h e r e t o b e a h e , she or it, first there has to be an I. So we create I, and then there are others. Without the first thought o f I t h e r e c a n t b e a n y o t h e r t h o u g h t s o f a n y o n e e l s e . T h a t s t h e f i r s t b a s i c e r r o r I a ma s e p a r a t e individual. If I am separate then there has to be others, he, she and it. And you start dividing up the One by first becoming an individual separate from it. Thought first divides and separates you from the O n e B e i n g n e s s , a n d t h e n c r e a t e s a m u l t i t u d e o f b e i n g s a n d t h i n g s a n d a l l t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s . I t s a l l y o u r t h o u g h t t h a t s a l l i t i s . L e t g o o f t h o u g h t a n d w h a t s l e f t o v e r i s y o u , i n f i n i t e , e t e r n a l , g l o r i o u s , a l l joyous, serene!

METHODS OF MIND REVELATION 1. See the source of the mind and you will find your Self. 2. Turn the mind back upon the mind and it will reveal its secrets. 3. Concentrate the mind on one thought and all other thoughts will drop away. Then drop this one thought. 4. Learn to control the breath, and you will automatically control the mind. 5. Eliminate the ego. The ego thinks and causes all thought. The ego is the identifier of the Self as the body. 6. Surrender the mind to God. 7. Eliminate all objectivity and the mind resolves. Then there is only subjectivity. 8. The mind must be eliminated permanently by realizing that it is not real but only an apparency, an illusion that has its source in your Self. 9. Where there is only subject and no object, there the Self is. ***

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 Y o u b e c o m e e v e r y t h i n g i n s t e a d o f n o t h i n g . B e c o m e e v e r y t h i n g a n d y o u n e e d n o t h i n g . D e s i r e i s l a c k a n d t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f s e p a r a t i o n , t h e s o u r c e o f a l l t r o u b l e . Lester Levenson
Session 11 MEDITATION AND THE QUEST QUIETING THE MIND The prime purpose of meditation is to quiet the mind. When we hold one thought with interest, o t h e r t h o u g h t s k e e p d r o p p i n g a w a y . T h o u g h t s o f t h e d a y , Wh a t h e d i d t o m e , w h a t s h e d i d , w h a t I s h o u l d h a v e d o n e . A l l t h e s e t h o u g h t s a r e a c t i v e o n a s u b c o n s c i o u s l e v e l . A s w e h o l d t o o n e t h o u g h t , these subconscious thoughts quiet; they become still. They drop into the background, and that quiets the mind. Now, the most important thing in quieting the mind is interest. When you are very interested in something, you will override all other thoughts. Likewise, if, with intense interest, you want to know, Wh a t a mI ?Wh a t i s t h i s w o r l d ? Wh a t i s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ?I f t h e r e i s a r e a l b u r n i n g d e s i r e t o g e t t h e a n s w e r t h e n a l l o t h e r t h o u g h t s d r o p a w a y a n d t h e m i n d b e c o m e s e x t r e m e l y c o n c e n t r a t e d . Then the answer shows itself. It comes from within. The answer is there all the time. The quieting of the thoughts allows us to see it, to see the answer that was there all the time, there in the realm of K n o w i n g n e s s t h e S e l f .

THE STARTING POINT The starting point should be a strong desire for the answer. When that desire is strong we get the a n s w e r . T h a t i s w h y m a n s e x t r e m i t y i s G o d s o p p o r t u n i t y . E x t r e m e a d v e r s i t y c a u s e s i n u s a d e s i r e t o get out of it with such intensity that we concentrate our mind and discover the answer. Wh e n I s t a r t e d m y q u e s t I t h o u g h t t h i n k i n g w o u l d g i v e m e t h e a n s w e r s . I h a d a m i n d t h a t w a s a s active as any mind could be. But I was at the end of the line. I had had a second heart attack and they told me I was finished, that I had only a short time to live, so I had to have the answers. And even though my mind was far more active than the great majority of minds, the intensity of the desire for the answers caused me to hold to one question at a time, obliterating all else. This kind of concentration did it! I started seeking with no knowledge of metaphysics, no knowledge of the way. In fact I was antireligion and anti-metaphysics. I thought it was nonsense, a diversion for the weak-minded, for people who believed in fairy tales. B u t i t w a s o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e i n t e n s i t y o f t h e d e s i r e t o g e t t h e a n s w e r s I h a d t o h a v e t h e a n s w e r s t h a t t h e y b e g a n t o c o m e , a n d t h e y c a m e r e l a t i v e l y q u i c k l y . O v e r a p e r i o d o f t h r e e m o n t h s t i m e I went from an extreme materialist to the opposite extreme: the material is nothingness and the spiritual is the All. The wish to get the answer was so strong, that in spite of my mind being one of the noisiest of minds, the answers began to come. I automatically fell into things (I knew no words for them) like samadhi. I would concentrate on a question with such intensity that I would lose awareness of the w o r l d , l o s e a w a r e n e s s o f t h i s b o d y , a n d t h e n I w o u l d b e a w a r e o f j u s t a p u r e t h o u g h t t h e t h o u g h t
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i t s e l f w o u l d b e t h e o n l y t h i n g e x i s t i n g i n t h i s u n i v e r s e . T h a t s a b s o r p t i o n w h e n t h e t h i n k e r a n d t h e t h o u g h t b e c o m e o n e . O n e l o s e s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f e v e r y t h i n g b u t t h a t o n e t h o u g h t . T h a t s a v e r y concentrated state of mind and the answer is always discovered right there. I s t a r t e d w i t h Wh a t i s h a p p i n e s s ?Wh a t i s l i f e ?Wh a t d o I w a n t ?H o wd o I g e t h a p p i n e s s ? I discovered that happiness depended upon my capacity to love. At first I thought it was in being loved. I reviewed my life and saw that I was very much loved by my family and friends and yet I was not happy. I saw that was not it. Continuing, I realized that it was my capacity to love that gave me happiness. T h e n e x t q u e s t i o n w a s Wh a t i s i n t e l l i g e n c e ? I p e r s i s t e d u n t i l A h !I s a wi t !T h e r e s o n l y o n e intelligence in the universe and we all can obtain it. I, then, worked on responsibility and discovered that I was responsible for everything that happens or happened to me. Creation was something I created!

A SINGLE QUESTION F i n a l l y , I h e l d t h e q u e s t i o n Wh a t a mI ? u n t i l t h e a n s w e r p r e s e n t e d i t s e l f . A n d t h i s w e n t o n a n d i n a m a t t e r o f t h r e e m o n t h s t i m e I b e l i e v e I s a wt h e e n t i r e p i c t u r e , I w e n t a l l t h e w a y o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e c o n c e n t r a t e d a p p r o a c h . I k n e wn o t h i n g a b o u t t h e s u b j e c t ; I k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e d i r e c t i o n , t h e w a y , t h e p a t h , b u t I w a n t e d t o k n o w : Wh a t a mI ?Wh a t i s t h i s w o r l d ? Wh a t s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ? You discover that the whole world is nothing but you, that there never was anything but you all a l o n g , b e c a u s e t h e r e s o n l y O n e a n d y o u a r e I t !B u t t h a t i s n o t t h e f i n a l s t a t e . Y o u c o m e o u t o f i t a n d t h e r e s s t i l l a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f m i n d l e f t . S o y o u g o h a c k i n t o t h e m e d i t a t i v e q u e s t u n t i l t h e r e i s n o more mind controlling you. When you have eliminated all the habits of thought, all the tendencies of mind, you are free; then you can use your mind and you are the master and director of it. It no longer determines you, you determine it. At present we are over 90% of the time controlled by the unconscious mind. Do you have any questions?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: When you say 90%, do you mean the conscious and unconscious mind both? Lester: Well, the conscious mind is easily controlled. The sub-conscious is not because it is not e a s i l y s e e n . I t s a m e c h a n i s mw e s e t u p t o n o t l o o k a t o u r t h o u g h t s , o f m a k i n g t h e mo p e r a t e a u t o m a t i c a l l y . We d i d i t t o o u r e n t i r e b o d y ; i t s a l l a u t o m a t i c n o w . A n d t h e n w e d i d i t t o a l l t h o u g h t s b u t t h e t h o u g h t w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n a t t h e m o m e n t . Q : Wh y i s i t t h a t w e d i d i t t o a l l t h o u g h t s e x c e p t t h e o n e w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n a t t h e m o m e n t ? L e s t e r : B e c a u s e w e d o n t w a n t t h e t h o u g h t s i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , s o w e p u s h t h e ma w a y t o t h e background. We are happiest when there are no thoughts. Sometimes, when you work with your h a n d s , y o u r e v e r y h a p p y , r i g h t ?Wh y ?T h e t h o u g h t s a r e q u i e t . Q: Then your mind is quieted at that time, or is it operating on the subconscious level? L e s t e r : We l l , c o n s c i o u s l y a n d e v e n s u b c o n s c i o u s l y i t s q u i e t e r . We r e a l l y d o n t w a n t t h o u g h t s . Thoughts are the things that make us unhappy; even the happy thoughts make us unhappy because w h i l e w e a r e e n j o y i n g s o m e t h i n g , w e r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f m a i n t a i n i n g t h i s p l e a s u r e
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which we know is not going to last. The thought of the pleasure at the same time evokes the thought t h a t i t s n o t g o i n g t o l a s t . E v e n t h o u g h t s o f h a p p i n e s s a r e l i m i t e d . T h e r e a l l y h a p p y s t a t e i s t h e n o t h o u g h t s t a t e ; i t s t h e s t a t e o f K n o w i n g n e s s a n d i s b e y o n d t h o u g h t . We s t a r t e d w i t h t h e s u b j e c t o f m e d i t a t i o n . Me d i t a t i o n d o e s s e e mt o b e a q u e s t i o n i n m a n y p e o p l e s minds who have meditated for years and years. The best type of meditation is with question. When you just drop into a nice quiet state without question, you get a good feeling but no progress of getting the Knowledge. Q : T h e r e i s n t a n y p r o g r e s s w h e n y o u r e j u s t q u i e t ? L e s t e r : T h e r e i s i n t h a t y o u r e m o v i n g t o w a r d t h e q u i e t s t a t e . A n d t h e q u i e t s t a t e i s a b e t t e r s t a t e t h a n t h e n o i s y s t a t e . I n t h a t s e n s e i t s a s t e p f o r w a r d . B u t t h e m a j o r p r o b l e mw e h a v e n o wi s c a l l e d ignorance. We are ignorant of the fact that we are infinite. To get rid of ignorance we need the Knowledge of our infinity. To get the Knowledge we have to enquire. So when we go into meditation a n d j u s t g e t p e a c e f u l l y q u i e t , t h a t s g o o d b u t d o n t s t o p t h e r e . G o b e y o n d t h a t a n d g e t t h e a n s w e r s . A n d i t s n e c e s s a r y t o g e t q u i e t t o g e t t h e a n s w e r s . O n l y t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI ? g e t s u s t o t h e t o p . T h a t i s e a s y t o s e e , i s n t i t ?S o i f w e w a n t t o t a k e t h e q u i c k e s t w a y , w e s t a r t w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t w e f i n a l l y h a v e t o a n s w e r , Wh a t a mI ? S o f o r m o r e r a p i d g r o w t h m e d i t a t i o n s h o u l d b e w i t h q u e s t i o n . H e r e s w h e r e t h e j n a n i s g e t t h e a d v a n t a g e o v e r t h e b h a k t a s . S u r r e n d e r a n d d e v o t i o n t h r o wu s i n t o n i c e f e e l i n g s a n d t h e y r e g o o d . B u t a j n a n i g o e s f u r t h e r ; h e s a y s , A l l r i g h t , d o n t s t o p t h e r e , g e t t h e a n s w e r . I t s o n l y w h e n w e f u l l y k n o ww h o a n d w h a t w e a r e t h a t w e r e a t t h e e n d o f t h e r o a d . S o t h e f a s t e s t a n d b e s t w a y t o m e d i t a t e i s to pose a question, get quiet and stay quiet until the answer shows itself. Then go to the next one until all the answers are there. Q : I f w e f i n d w e a r e n t m a k i n g m u c h p r o g r e s s , c o u l d w e p o s e t h e q u e s t i o n Wh a t s h o l d i n g m e u p ? L e s t e r : S u r e y o u c o u l d . T h a t i s a g o o d o n e . Q : Y o u k n o wI t h i n k y o u h a d i t e a s i e r b e c a u s e y o u d i d n t h a v e a l o t o f p r e c o n c e i v e d i d e a s . L e s t e r : Y o u r e r i g h t . I w a s v e r y l u c k y t h a t I k n e wn o t h i n g b e c a u s e i n t e l l e c t u a l k n o w l e d g e a b o u t the subject is an obstacle. The ego substitutes intellectual knowledge for real experience. I was very, very fortunate not to have had any knowledge of it. Q : Y o u a l s o d i d n t r e a l i z e t h a t i t s a s d i f f i c u l t a s m o s t p e o p l e t h i n k i t i s . L e s t e r : Y e s . H o w e v e r , k n o w i n g w h a t y o u r e t e l l i n g m e h e l p s o n e l e t g o o f t h e o b s t a c l e o f i n t e l l e c t u a l k n o w l e d g e . I p r o d y o u i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , d o n t I ?I s a y , D o n t b e l i e v e a n y t h i n g . S t a r t f r o ms c r a t c h . B u i l d u p y o u r k n o w l e d g e o n t h e s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n o f p r o o f , s t e p b y s t e p . E v e r y o n e m u s t do this. Q : Y o u c a n t t a k e s o m e o n e e l s e s e x p e r i e n c e ? Lester: Right, you would be working on hearsay, on what they have said, and the only useful thing is that which you experience. I relate it to driving a car. If I say I know how to drive a car after reading a b o o k t h a t d i r e c t s y o u t o t u r n t h e k e y o n , s t a r t t h e m o t o r , s h i f t i n t o d r i v e a n d s t e p o n t h e g a s d o I k n o wh o wt o d r i v e a c a r ?N o , n o t u n t i l I e x p e r i e n c e i t c a n I d r i v e a c a r . I t s t h e s a m e t h i n g o n t h e path; we must experience everything. We must, of course, adopt the attitude that what the Great Ones say is so, that they have experienced it. However, you must check it out and prove it for yourself. And the basic Truth is that t h e r e s o n l y o n e R e a l i t y ; t h e r e s o n l y o n e a b s o l u t e T r u t h a n d t h a t i s t h i s w h o l e w o r l d o r u n i v e r s e i s
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nothing but God, but better than that, is nothing but my very own Self. God could be far away; He could be miles and miles away in cosmic space, but my very own Self is right here, this is something I k n o wa b o u t , t h i s i s s o m e t h i n g I c a n p e r c e i v e i t i s m y v e r y o w n S e l f !S o , u s i n g S e l f a s G o d i s f a r more practical than putting Him out there, putting Him apart from us. But each one must start from the bottom and prove this whole thing for himself. As the proofs come, the more they come the more we accept until we experience the whole thing. You still want to hear more on meditation? Q: Yes. Lester: Every aid should be a means of quieting the mind. If meditation is difficult we can prepare the way by chanting. Chanting puts our minds on the meaning of the chant itself and the thoughts of the day drop away and that quiets the mind. Exercising the body, doing certain asanas, etc., does the same thing. Anything that helps is good, whatever it is. The basic thing is to quiet the mind. Being loving and good makes the mind quieter. The mind is the only thing that keeps us from seeing our Infinity. The mind is nothing but a collection of thoughts of limitation. And in meditation we try to quiet that mind so we can see this infinite Being that we are. Meditation should never be passive. We should never try to force the mind to go blank. Meditation should always be with question for the best results. The more we practice meditation the easier it is to do. To get the real deep insights requires a momentum. When meditation gets to be more enjoyable than things of the world, then we go at it with e n t h u s i a s ma n d d e s i r e f o r i t . A n d t h e n w e j u s t c a n t w a i t u n t i l w e g e t b a c k t o i t . Wh e n w e g e t t h a t momentum going, the mind gets quieter and quieter until this infinite Self is self obvious and just glares at us and we laugh. Now maybe with all this talk on meditation, we ought to try it, O.K.? Q: Does concentrating on your hands help to get your mind quiet? It seems to for me. L e s t e r : I f i t h e l p s , i t s g o o d . Q : I t s n o t h a r m f u l t h e n ? Lester: No. There are several centers one may concentrate on. A good place is up here, between the eyebrows. Concentrating here takes your mind off other parts of the body. It is the center for the third eye, the astral eye, the spiritual eye. It pulls us away from the lower centers of the body when we c o m e u p h e r e . S o m e p r e f e r t h e h e a r t c e n t e r . B u t a n y t h i n g t h a t h e l p s h e l p s ! Q : I u s e d t o c o n c e n t r a t e b e t w e e n t h e e y e s b u t n o ww h e n I d o i n q u i r y , I l e t t h e I s i n k d o w n t o t h e heart. Lester: The heart is a good place because it is the center of feeling and feeling is closer to the Self t h a n t h o u g h t . I t d e p e n d s o n y o u r b a c k g r o u n d . I f y o u r e a v i c h a r a j n a n i , i t l l b e t h e h e a r t , b u t n o t o n t h e l e f t s i d e , o n t h e r i g h t s i d e . I f y o u r e a r a j a y o g i i t l l b e b e t w e e n t h e e y e s . Wh e n I d i d m y c o n c e n t r a t i n g i t w a s n t o n a n y l o c a t i o n ; i t w a s o n w a n t i n g t o h a v e t h e a n s w e r . C o n c e n t r a t e o n s e e k i n g the answer. Q : I h a v e n t t h o u g h t i n t e r m s o f a n s w e r s , I j u s t t h o u g h t i n t e r m s o f g e t t i n g t h e r e , t h a t s a l l . Lester: You see, anything in life that you wanted with intensity you already have. This goes for e v e r y o n e a n d e v e r y t h i n g . I t s t h e s a m e w i t h t h e p a t h . B u t i t s t h e u n c o n s c i o u s c o n v i c t i o n t h a t o u r j o y s lie in the world that keeps us away from getting the answer. Q: It sounds so easy the way you say it.
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L e s t e r : T h e e a s e i s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e i n t e n s i t y o f y o u r d e s i r e f o r t h e a n s w e r . T h a t s t h e c r u x o f t h e whole thing. ***

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 T h e r e i s a n e a s y w a y t o r e a l i z a t i o n . J u s t g e t r i d o f a l l d e s i r e s . Lester Levenson
Session 12 DESIRE Ad e s i r e i s a d i s t u r b a n c e o f o n e s n a t u r a l , i n h e r e n t p e a c e a n d j o y . D e s i r e s k e e p o n e i n v o l v e d i n trying to satiate the desires, consequently detracting one from his constant, natural, inherent happiness. In short, desire is the enemy of happiness and the source of misery. So here are some things about desire to reflect on. As usual, let each one speak to you. Let it in and see what occurs. *** The more one lets go of desire, the less disturbed the mind becomes allowing it to become concentrated. The more concentrated the mind, the more capable one becomes of discerning or realizing his Self. *** Silence quiets the noisy demands of ego desires and allows your Self to be seen. *** Solitude is the absence of desire. *** The absence of desire is serenity. *** Every time one tries to satisfy a desire, he creates a greater intensity of that desire. This comes about because the momentary pleasure, which is inhering more in the Self due to momentary stilling of thoughts, is attributed to the object of the desire and therefore, one wants the object more and more, vainly attempting to satiate the desire, which is satiable only in being constantly quiet from thoughts, i.e., constantly inhering in the Self. *** The simultaneous fulfillment of all desires is in the finding of your real Self. *** Desire is a bottomless pit that can never be filled up.
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*** Desire constitutes the world and desirelessness constitutes the Self, God. *** Desire is seeking the joy of being our Self through objects and people. The mind originally creates the thought of need or lack, which agitates the mind and covers the Self. When the object is attained, the mind stills, the joy of your Self shines forth and this joy is attributed to the object, and the mind then goes on seeking the object as the source of the joy. But the joy being not obtainable from the object, the mind seeks it more and more from the object and is never satisfied. *** Desire is the mother of all motion, the disturber of all peace. *** The basic mechanism of desire is, first, we create a lack and then desire whatever is necessary to fill that lack. The desire creates thoughts. The thoughts cover the Self and this makes us unhappy. Then we look to relieve that unhappiness by fulfilling the desire which momentarily stills the thoughts. The s t i l l i n g o f t h o u g h t s r e m o v e s a b i t o f t h e c o v e r o f t h e S e l f a n d i t s t h e f e e l i n g o f a b i t m o r e o f t h e S e l f that we call pleasure. We wrongly attribute that joy or pleasure to the thing or person that was used to fulfill the desire to relieve the agony of the thoughts of desire that were covering the Self. Because of this wrong attributing of the joy to the person or thing, the desire will never be satiated because the joy is not in the person or thing. The only possibility of satiety is to remain in your Self! *** Fulfilling desire is momentarily letting go of the agony of the feelings of being limited by lack. T h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s h o u l d h e l p y o u l e t g o o f t h e f r u s t r a t i n g d r i v e o f s e e k i n g h a p p i n e s s w h e r e i t i s n t i n t h e w o r l d ! *** Desire is mind disquieted. *** Recognizing who and what you are instantly satisfies all desires. *** We should desire only God. ***

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Desire leads only to misery and death. *** Any desire upsets and disturbs the natural, inherent tranquillity and peace. *** If one will stop thinking of something, his desire for it will disappear. *** A f t e r y o u d i s c o v e r t h a t d e s i r e s a r e u n d e s i r a b l e , y o u d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e r e s a j o y a n d p e a c e t h a t s e v e r constant and more profound than any joy you have experienced before. *** Desire is the start of all agitation. *** A desire is an artificially created lack. *** Ignorance creates the universe, desire sustains it, and enlightenment dissolves it! *** If there were no desire there would be no world or universe of limitation. *** Desire is the source of all trouble. *** I f d e s i r e o v e r w h e l m s u s i t i s b e c a u s e w e w a n t i t t o . Wh o t u r n s o n t h e d e s i r e ?I f i t s i n y o u r p o w e r t o t u r n i t o n , i t s i n y o u r p o w e r t o t u r n i t o f f . T h e m o r e i t i s t u r n e d o f f , t h e w e a k e r i t b e c o m e s . *** Desire only growth. Everyone makes the Goal eventually, but the intensity of the desire determines when and how soon. If your desire is strong, you think only of that. The doubts then drop away. *** D o n t s u p p r e s s d e s i r e , a c t u a l l y l e t g o o f i t . I f y o u c r e a t e t h e d e s i r e i n y o u , y o u c a n u n c r e a t e i t .
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*** The worst thing to do is to suppress a desire, any desire. When it is suppressed, from that moment on, it will try to express itself. Recognizing it does not mean we must try to satisfy it, but does prevent suppressing it. *** Nervousness is caused by wanting two opposing things at the same time, one consciously and the other subconsciously. The battle is resolved when you make the subconscious desire conscious. On the other hand, if you know what you are, there will be no conflicts. You can do that through seeking. It is not necessary to understand the negative. It is far better to be the positive. Be your Self. *** Seeking any ego fulfillment is seeking the letting go of the agony of the concept of lack. Any lack is necessarily an ego concept. *** In order to be infinite beings, we must have no desires because any desire is a limiting action upon ourselves. It we think we need something, we think of ourselves as being limited. If you have e v e r y t h i n g , i f y o u a r e e v e r y t h i n g , h o wc o u l d y o u w a n t s o m e t h i n g ?Y o u k n o wy o u d o n t n e e d a n y t h i n g and you go through life knowing all the time that you need nothing. Your attitude is different. With t h i s a t t i t u d e , s h o u l d t h e r e b e a n e e d o f t h e b o d y , i t s i m m e d i a t e l y f u l f i l l e d . Y o u d o n t h a v e t o t h i n k about it, it is taken care of immediately. *** The only thing that creates thought is desire. As long as there is one single desire, there will be disturbance and lack of complete contentedness. *** Any desire satisfied disappears forever. *** T h e r e i s a n e a s y w a y t o r e a l i z a t i o n j u s t g e t r i d o f a l l d e s i r e s . *** One way to overcome desire is to have a very strong desire for God. And, in the end, you have to get rid of your desire for God. Then you are It! *** Every little ego wish is a clamp down on your freedom which is tantamount to saying every desire is
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a clamp down on your freedom. *** Desire creates thoughts, desire to have or not to have. Before desire is ego. So ego is the starting p o i n t . I ma n i n d i v i d u a l s e p a r a t e f r o mt h e A l l , s o I v e g o t t o d e s i r e t o g e t t h e A l l . *** The only thing that disturbs peace is desire. *** When things are approached with pure love, there is no more desire. *** Desire plants seeds for the future. *** Decrease desire for the world; increase desire for the Self. *** You must get rid of all desire. You can enjoy without desire. In fact, if you really want to enjoy things, you can enjoy far more without desire. *** D e s i r e i s t h e c a u s e o f e v e r y t h i n g . A n y t i m e y o u h a v e a n y p r o b l e m , t h e r e s d e s i r e b e h i n d i t . *** Any desire except desire for liberation is causing misery. *** The odd thing about desire is that the more you try to satisfy it, the stronger it becomes. The more people try to satisfy their desire by having things, the stronger that desire becomes. People have more things today than they have ever had and they are unhappier than they have ever been. *** Desire just cuts off happiness. ***

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Y o u s h o u l d h a v e o n l y o n e d e s i r e a d e s i r e f o r c o m p l e t e l i b e r a t i o n , c o m p l e t e r e a l i z a t i o n . A n y other desire will keep you in trouble. We should try to let go of all desires. We should not try to fulfill desires. Every time we fulfill a desire, we strengthen that desire, rather than weaken it. I believe that i s o b v i o u s t o a l l o f u s t h a t w e n e v e r s a t i a t e d e s i r e s . T h e m o r e w e t r y t o s a t i s f y t h e m , t h e m o r e w e want of them. So, it is better to not satisfy desires and by doing so, the mind gets quieter. When the mind is quieter, we have a better chance to see the Truth. When we see the Truth, we scorch the d e s i r e , a n d t h i s i s t h e b e t t e r w a y a c t u a l l y t h e o n l y r e a l e f f e c t u a l w a y o f g e t t i n g r i d o f d e s i r e . When you see the Truth, desires are scorched because a desire is really trying to be your own real Self through some indirect means, through some thing, through some person. When you see this, you let go of these silly desires because why struggle through an indirect means to be that which you are? The indirect means cannot make you what you are, so it is fruitless and extremely frustrating. Consequently, we have this frustrated world. We are all trying to satisfy desire; it is absolutely impossible to do it, and we go on and on, lifetime in, lifetime out, until we recognize that desires are our enemy. Desire is an admission of lack. If I am the infinite One, I desire nothing; I am the All. We must get back to that state by behaving as one would in that state. The greatest behavior, the greatest ritual, that w e c a n p e r f o r mi s l i v i n g a s a f u l l y r e a l i z e d B e i n g w o u l d l i v e . T r y t o a t t a i n t h e s t a t e o f d i s p a s s i o n no attachments, no aversions. Try to attain a state of equanimity, a feeling of equal mindedness toward every thing, every one. Try to attain the desireless state. Then, you will see that you are the All, that you are That! ***

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 N o o n e c a n d o a n y t h i n g t o u s . N o o n e c a n d o a n y t h i n g f o r u s . S o m e d a y y o u l l s e e t h i s . Lester Levenson
Session 13 WHAT AM I? WHERE HAVE WE BEEN Let us pause a moment to take a look at what we have been talking about, and where we are going. As I have said, I describe the ultimate goal of every being as total and complete happiness with no taint of sorrow whatsoever. We are all striving for this in our every act, but somehow most of us keep missing the goal. In my opinion, the reason we miss our goal is simply that we do not have a clear vision of the goal and we, therefore, aim blindly. And, so long as we aim blindly we remain blinded, and, can never attain the goal of perfect happiness. T h e n , s o m e o n e c o m e s a l o n g a n d s a y s , A t t e n t i o n !Y o u h a v e s p e n t m a n y l i f e t i m e s l o o k i n g i n t h e wrong direction! Stop looking without and look within! Only there will you find that which you have s p e n t l i f e t i m e a f t e r l i f e t i m e s e e k i n g ! Y o u m e e t s o m e o n e l i k e L e s t e r w h o t e l l s y o u , S e e k y o u r v e r y own Self. Therein lies your complete happiness. Stop looking for happiness in people and things. When you look for happiness outside yourself, you merely eliminate the pain of the desire for one thing by substituting the relief of another and you call this substitution pleasure. But the pleasure is short lived because the desire is not eliminated. It has only been transferred to another object, and therefore as soon as the person seems to turn away or they change, or the circumstance allows the pain of the d e s i r e t o r e e m e r g e , i t c o n t i n u e s t o g n a wa t y o u . However, the starting point is you. You can take the way that leads toward discovering you. And of course, only you can do it. Accept nothing unless you can prove it yourself. Prove it and it is yours. Prove it and then you can use it.

THE SCIENCE OF ALL SCIENCES The uniqueness of this science, and someday you will see it, it is the science of all sciences. It is a s u b j e c t i v e s c i e n c e . We h a v e t o s e e k i t w i t h i n ; w e c a n t p u t i t o u t o n a t a b l e i n f r o n t o f u s a n d e x a m i n e it. We can only examine it within our own mind, or better, within our own being. Also, the intellect does not avail it to us. The intellect can get us in the right direction to find it. The right direction is turning within, stilling the mind and experiencing this truth, this knowledge. And only by experience can we get to know it. Methods are many, but the very highest is the method that everyone uses in the final end, and that m e t h o d i s f i n d i n g t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI ? T h i s q u e s t s h o u l d b e k e p t u p a l l t h e t i m e , n o t o n l y i n meditation, but during the day. While we are working, no matter what we are doing, in the back of our m i n d w e c a n a l w a y s k e e p t h a t q u e s t i o n p o s e d , Wh a t a mI ? u n t i l t h e a n s w e r m a k e s i t s e l f o b v i o u s t o us. The answer can not, however come from the mind. For any answer the mind can give us must necessarily not be it because the mind is an instrument of limitation. All thoughts are qualified; all thoughts are limited. So any answer the mind gives cannot be right. The way the answer comes is simply by
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our getting out of the way. By letting the blindness that we have imposed upon ourselves by assuming t h o u g h t s f a l l a w a y . Wh e n t h e t h o u g h t s a r e q u i e t , t h e l i m i t l e s s B e i n g i s o b v i o u s . I t s s e l f e f f u l g e n t . I t s t h e r e a l l t h e t i m e . I t s j u s t c o v e r e d o v e r b y t h o u g h t c o n c e p t s , e v e r y o n e o f w h i c h i s l i m i t e d . S o , t h e w a y t o u n c o v e r i t i s t o p o s e t h e q u e s t i o n , Wh a t a mI ? a n d q u i e t l y a w a i t t h e a n s w e r . O t h e r thoughts will come in, and the biggest difficulty is quieting these thoughts. When other thoughts come i n , i f w e p o s e t h e q u e s t i o n , T o w h o ma r e t h e s e t h o u g h t s ? T h e a n s w e r n a t u r a l l y i s , T o m e . T h e n , Wh a t a mI ? p u t s u s r i g h t b a c k o n t h e t r a c k a g a i n . T h a t w a y w e c a n c o n t i n u o u s l y k e e p o u r a t t e n t i o n o n Wh a t a mI ?

BE NOT THE DOER In addition to posing this question until we get the answer, it is good practice in our daily life to not b e t h e d o e r , t o n o t b e t h e a g e n t . J u s t b e t h e w i t n e s s !A c q u i r e t h e , I t i s n o t I b u t t h e F a t h e r w h o w o r k e t h t h r o u g h m e , a t t i t u d e . T h i s i s t h e m a i n c o n d u c t o f l i f e t h a t w e s h o u l d s t r i v e f o r . T h e m o r e w e become the witness in life, the more we become non-attached to the body, the more we are our real Self. S o , t h e r e a r e t w o t h i n g s I a ms u g g e s t i n g , o n e i s t h e q u e s t , Wh a t a mI ? a n d t h e s e c o n d i s i n l i v i n g l i f e , D o n o t b e t h e d o e r ; b e t h e w i t n e s s . L e t t i n g t h i n g s h a p p e n ; a l l o wl i f e t o b e . T h a t s t h e w a y w e are in the top state, and the best behavior in life is that which is characteristic of the top state. There are many other things which I am sure you are aware of: humbleness, goodness, kindness, h o n e s t y , e t c . A l l t h e s e t h i n g s h e l p , b u t t h e g r e a t e s t a i d i s b e n o t t h e d o e r . B e t h e w i t n e s s .

THE APPEARANCE OF THE SELF Now, when the Self of us presents Itself to us, it is a tremendous experience! It is a very difficult one to contain. We feel as though we are going to burst because we recognize our omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence! But just seeing it once does not establish us in that state. However, once we experience it, we will never let go until we reestablish it. We will continue to try, and we should continue to try, to get back into that state. The next time, it will last a bit longer, the third time, still longer, until finally we are in it twenty-four hours a day. When we attain this top state, we are not zombies, but we are all-knowing and everywhere present. Everything falls perfectly into line. We move in the world just like anyone else moves, but the difference is that we see the world entirely different from the way everyone else sees it. We watch our body moving through life like an automation. We let it go its way. And since we are not really that body, nothing that happens to that body can effect us. Even if it were crushed, it would not mean much to us because we fully know that we are not that body. We know our eternal Beingness and we remain That! So, one who has attained the top state is difficult to distinguish from anyone else. He or she will go through the same motions of life and whatever they were doing before, they might continue to do. But their outlook on life is entirely different. They are completely egoless with no concern for their own b o d i e s . T h e y a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n o t h e r s a n d n o t i n t h e m s e l v e s t h e y a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n a l l h u m a n i t y . Whatever they do has absolutely no ego motivation. Their body will continue to live its normal span and usually goes out, in the eyes of the unknowing, the same way most bodies go out, via so-called death and coffin. But the one who was originally connected with that body never sees any of this death. They see this entire world and body as an illusion that was created mentally just as we create scenes, cities and worlds in our night dreams. When we awaken, we realize there never was such a
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thing. And in the same way, when we awaken from this waking state, we see that the whole thing was a dream and never really was. That the only thing that ever was, was my Being, the absolute Reality, being all beingness, infinite, all perfect, all knowing, all powerful, omnipresent. So, to reiterate, the main two points that I want to bring out are that the very highest method is the q u e s t , Wh a t a mI ? A s w e p o s e t h i s q u e s t i o n i n q u i e t n e s s , w h e n o t h e r t h o u g h t s c o m e i n , a s k . T o w h o ma r e t h e s e t h o u g h t s ? T h e a n s w e r i s T o m e . We l l , w h a t a mI ? a n d w e r e r i g h t b a c k o n t h e t r a c k a g a i n u n t i l w e g e t t h e t o t a l a n s w e r . T h e s e c o n d p o i n t i s t o b e t h e w i t n e s s , n o t t h e d o e r . I believe that sums up what I have been trying to get across up until now. And questions on this?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: To not be the doer, do you plan? Do you do everything normally? L e s t e r : N o , t h e r i g h t w a y i s n o t t o p l a n . L e t i t h a p p e n . L e t g o a n d y o u l l b e g u i d e d i n t u i t i v e l y . I n s t e a d o f p l a n n i n g w i t h t h o u g h t , y o u l l d o e x a c t l y t h e r i g h t t h i n g , p e r f e c t l y a t t h e r i g h t m o m e n t , f r o m moment to moment. Q : T h e r e i s a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e s o m e o n e m i g h t t a k e a p o s i t i o n o f t h a t k i n d w h e n h e h a s n t r e a l l y f e l t i t ; f o r e x a m p l e , h e w i l l s a y , I l l j u s t s t a y i n b e d u n t i l I mm o v e d . Me a n t i m e h i s r e n t i s n t p a i d . L e s t e r : S o , h e l l h a v e t o m o v e !I f w e a s s u m e t h a t w e a r e t h e r e a n d a r e n o t , w e a r e s o o n a w a k e n e d t o t h e f a c t t h a t w e a r e n o t t h e r e , s e e . I mt a l k i n g f r o ma h i g h e r l e v e l n o w , t h e p e r f e c t s t a t e , w h e r e everything is in absolute harmony every moment. There you never think, and at every moment you k n o wf r o mw i t h i n j u s t t h e r i g h t t h i n g t o d o . Y o u r e g u i d e d i n t u i t i v e l y e a c h a n d e v e r y m o m e n t a n d everything falls perfectly into line. N o w , i f y o u r e n o t t h e r e , o f c o u r s e y o u h a v e t o t h i n k ; y o u h a v e t o p l a n . Q : We l l , i n p r a c t i c e t h e n , i n t h e b e g i n n i n g , i t s p r o b a b l y a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e t w o w h e r e t h i n g s g o v e r y e a s i l y , a n d t h e n t h e r e s a h u m p i n w h i c h y o u h a v e t o p l a n . Lester: Definitely yes! In the top state, you do by knowing; you just know from moment to m o m e n t . O n e f e e l s I k n o wi t ! T h a t s j u s t t h e w a y i t f e e l s a n d t h e r e s n o t h i n k i n g t o i t o n l y I k n o wi t ! Q: I know from my own experience, I slip back and lay out a plan, but sometimes that plan comes very easily and quickly to me and sometimes I have to struggle like the devil to work it out, step by s t e p , a n d I d o n t k n o ww h a t s g o i n g t o h a p p e n . O t h e r t i m e s , I j u s t l a y o u t a p l a n a n d I k n o ww h a t s going to happen and I have no difficulty with it. L e s t e r : T h e w o r d k n o w a s y o u u s e i t , i s t h e k e y . Y o u k n o wh o wt h a t w o r d f e e l s w h e n y o u s a y , I k n o wi t ! T h e r e s n o d o u b t , n o t o n e i o t a o f d o u b t t h e r e . A n d i t h a p p e n s . T h a t s t h e k e y . T h a t s t h e realm of knowingness. Make that all the time. Keep working for it until it comes and stays. The quickness with which we attain this is determined by the intensity of the desire for it. The more we d e s i r e t h i s t o p s t a t e , t h e s o o n e r i t c o m e s . E v e r y o n e m a k e s i t e v e n t u a l l y . I mc o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e majority of people on Earth today will probably take millions of years to make it. But any one of us who is consciously seeking the way out can do it this lifetime. This so-called grace of God is always there. All those who have made the top grade before us are radiating the consciousness of perfection to us. We have tremendous grace being actually pushed our w a y a l l t h e t i m e . H o w e v e r , t h e y h a v e n o r i g h t t o i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s a n d d o n t . We h a v e t o o p e n ourselves to it in order to receive it. We need this grace. Because of the state of affairs today, man is relatively low. We are very
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s t r o n g l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t w e a r e a l i m i t e d b o d y a n d b y l o n g h a b i t w e a r e t r y i n g t o h o l d o n t o i t . S o i t s not easy to let go of this body, and because of that, we need the grace of the Great Ones who in our e y e s h a v e p a s s e d o n , b u t i n t h e i r e y e s , t h e y r e s t i l l h e r e . Wh e n w e r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e y a r e s t i l l h e r e , w e can see them and talk to them the way we talk to each other. If we accept them partially, we can talk to them in a dream or a vision. The way we meet with them is determined by our acceptance of them. If any one of us believed that he could go down to a restaurant and have a snack with Jesus, the way you b e l i e v e y o u c o u l d d o i t w i t h m e i f y o u h a d t h a t m u c h a c c e p t a n c e t h e n y o u w o u l d d o i t . Now, some of us know that if He were suddenly to appear in a physical body in the room, it would b e t o o m u c h f o r m o s t o f u s t o a c c e p t a n d t h e r e f o r e H e d o e s n t . B u t t h e w a y H e c o m e s t o u s i s determined by our acceptance of Him. He gave signs to some here and some did not recognize that He did. However, most of us did! T h e p o i n t I mt r y i n g t o m a k e n o wi s t h a t w e s h o u l d o p e n o u r s e l v e s t o t h e h e l p o f t h e g r e a t m a s t e r s . J e s u s a n d t h e G r e a t O n e s w a n t e a c h a n d e v e r y o n e o f u s t o k n o wo u r p e r f e c t i o n . T h e y c a n t f o r c e i t u p o n u s . B u t t h e i r h a n d i s a l w a y s e x t e n d e d . I t s g o o d t o k e e p t h i s i n m i n d . T h e n w e o p e n o u r s e l v e s more to the help. Q: How do you request and receive this help? Lester: You have to be accepting of Jesus as being alive, just as much as we are, and capable of m e e t i n g w i t h y o u , t h e w a y w e m e e t w i t h y o u t h e n i t c a n h a p p e n . Y o u h a v e t o b e o p e n t o i t . T h e help is always being sent to you. Q: Are there words to say, thoughts to carry? L e s t e r : Y e s . B u t I c a n t g i v e t h e mt o y o u ; t h a t s u p t o y o u . S e e , I g i v e y o u t h e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e a c c e p t a n c e o f H i m , t h e w a y H e i s . D o n t e x p e c t H i mt o b e n o t C h r i s t l y b e c a u s e H e w o n t b e t h a t . However, He can appear as a very humble human being in form. Being omnipresent, at any moment, He can appear to anyone and speak with him. Q : L e s t e r , H e w i l l b e a s C h r i s t , H e w o n t b e i n d i s g u i s e , w i l l H e ?T h e b e g g a r a t t h e d o o r ? Lester: No. The only disguise is the one we put on Him. He would never disguise Himself. He w a n t s t o b e r e c o g n i z e d a s C h r i s t . T h a t s n o t H i s n a m e . T h e m a n J e s u s h a d t h e C h r i s t C o n s c i o u s n e s s . A n d w e h a v e t o a c c e p t H i ma n d H i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h i c h i s e x t r e m e h u m i l i t y , s i m p l i c i t y n o Hollywood glamour. Q: Would you define humility? Lester: Yes. The greatest humility is through surrender. It is surrender of the ego, the ego being a sense of separate individuality. Not I but thou; not I, but the Father who worketh through me. E v e r y t h i n g I d o i s G o d s w o r k , I a mn o t t h e d o e r . Q: If you surrender yourself as an individual, how about the other person? I think we mentioned before that we recognize the other person as ourselves and we treat them as though we are the same. Who is this other person? Lester: From where you stand now, the other person should not concern you. The only thing that should concern us is what we do. For me, it matters not what your attitude is toward me. You could h a t e m e w i t h e v e r y c e l l i n y o u r b o d y . B u t i t s o f e x t r e m e i m p o r t a n c e w h a t m y a t t i t u d e i s t o w a r d y o u . Wh i l e y o u r e h a t i n g m e , I s h o u l d l o v e y o u f u l l y a n d c o m p l e t e l y . T h e n y o u l l u n d e r s t a n d t h e a n s w e r t o y o u r q u e s t i o n a n d y o u w i l l s e e o n l y t h e O n e . Wh e n y o u s e p a r a t e a n d t h e n a s k w h a t s u p h e r e i n t h e O n e , i t j u s t d o e s n t f i t . When we love, and only love, we are using the most formidable power in the Universe. No one and
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n o t h i n g c a n h a r mu s . We c a n n e v e r e v e r b e h u r t o r u n h a p p y i t w e w o u l d o n l y j u s t l o v e w i t h o u t a n y h a t e . Y o u c a n n e v e r b e h u r t w h e n y o u l o v e i n t h e s e n s e t h a t t h e l o v e i s f u l l , c o m p l e t e d i v i n e l o v e . I t s j u s t l o v e w i t h n o , n o t o n e b i t , o f h a t e i n i t . I t r e q u i r e s t u r n i n g t h e o t h e r c h e e k , l o v i n g y o u r e n e m y t h a t s t h e k i n d o f l o v e i t t a k e s Q: Love is understanding? L e s t e r : Wh e n y o u l o v e f u l l y , y o u u n d e r s t a n d t h e o t h e r o n e f u l l y . L o v e i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I t s i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e o t h e r o n e , b e i n g t h e o t h e r o n e . C o m i n g d o w n a s t e p , i t s w a n t i n g t h e o t h e r o n e t o have what the other one wants, loving the other one, the way the other one is. Q: Then who is our enemy? L e s t e r : I n r e a l i t y , w e h a v e o n l y o n e e n e m y a n d t h a t s o u r s e l f . N o o n e c a n d o a n y t h i n g t o u s ; n o o n e c a n d o a n y t h i n g f o r u s . S o m e d a y y o u l l s e e t h i s t h a t w e i n o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s d e t e r m i n e everything that happens to us. Q: Then it is our idea of ourselves which is incorrect? Lester: Right. And that could be made better! Q: When you say understanding, do you mean understanding in a logical sense, or do you mean a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e mw i t h o u t q u e s t i o n i n g t h e r e a s o n w h y t h e y r e d o i n g t h i n g s , g o o d o r b a d ; j u s t a c c e p tance of whatever they are in entirety? L e s t e r : I t s a c c e p t a n c e i n e n t i r e t y . B u t t h e r e a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g r e q u i r e s k n o w l e d g e o f w h a t t h e Universe and the World are. When we see someone doing wrong, we have to know that this is a godb e i n g , m i s g u i d e d . H e s l o o k i n g f o r G o d i n t h e w r o n g p l a c e . A mI m a k i n g s e n s e ?T h a t s t h e understanding. Q: Which in his mind would be happiness, right? L e s t e r : Y e s . H e s l o o k i n g f o r h a p p i n e s s t h e w a y h e s e e s i t . E v e n a H i t l e r , i n h i s m i n d , i s d o i n g r i g h t , a n d t h e r e f o r e s h o u l d n o t b e h a t e d , b u t s h o u l d b e l o v e d w a n t i n g h i mt o b e w h a t H i s r e a l b a s i c n a t u r e i s . N o wt h i s d o e s n t m e a n a p p r o v i n g o f h i s p r o g r a m i t d o e s n t . B u t w h e t h e r w e a p p r o v e o r not of his program, loving and hating are two different things. So we love everyone, see them as m i s g u i d e d b e i n g s , f o r g i v e t h e mf o r t h e y d o n o t k n o w . T h e y r e l i k e c h i l d r e n m i s g u i d e d . A t t a i n t h e highest state of loving everyone equally as Christ did! ***

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 B e c o m e e v e r y t h i n g i n s t e a d o f n o t h i n g . B e c o m e e v e r y t h i n g a n d y o u n e e d n o t h i n g . Desire is lack and the consciousness of separation. The feeling of lack is the source of a l l t r o u b l e . Lester Levenson
Session 14 THE KEY TO CONSTANT HAPPINESS YOUR FREEDOM I would like to give you the key to maintaining constant happiness. I did not do so earlier because we had to lay some groundwork, and you had to have some experience with the material. Also, if you just take my word for it and you receive a lift, you might say that I did it. This develops a dependency r e l a t i o n s h i p , w h i c h i s n t g o o d . Y o u , a n d y o u a l o n e , c a n d o a n y t h i n g a n d e v e r y t h i n g t h a t y o u w a n t . You can have, be, or do whatever you will or desire. It is much, much better when you do it and do not think you need someone to lean upon. I know that what most people would like to know is how to maintain this new found happiness. And so here is the key to the understanding. It will help you develop happiness that remains.

THE KEY This is the key: When you really know what happiness is, then you are able to establish it. Then y o u d o i t m o r e a n d m o r e u n t i l i t s a l l t h e t i m e . B u t t h e k e y i s k n o w i n g w h a t h a p p i n e s s i s . Wh e n y o u d o k n o ww h a t i t i s , y o u l o o k f o r i t w h e r e i t i s r a t h e r t h a n w h e r e i t i s n t . L o o k i n g f o r i t w h e r e i t i s n t i s c a u s i n g y o u t o d r o p d o w n f r o mb e i n g n e s s . I s t h e r e a n y q u e s t i o n o n w h a t I v e s a i d s o f a r ? The key is knowing what happiness is, so that you can go directly for it. Not recognizing what happiness is makes it difficult to establish permanently. So when you get to see what this happiness r e a l l y i s , t h e n w h e n y o u b e c o m e m i s e r a b l e y o u l l m o v e i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n a n d e s t a b l i s h t h a t happiness.

HAPPINESS All right, what is happiness? Most people call it pleasure but for most people pleasure is only escape from pain! Most people call themselves happy when they get away from their pain through socializing and entertainment, but this is really only an escape! Unable to be by themselves, with their own thoughts, they run to a movie, a nightclub, visit someone, or just get some action going so they are not facing their own thoughts. When their mind is taken away from their own thoughts, they feel better, and they call this pleasure and happiness. In many ways all entertainment is escape! A happy man needs no entertainment and no socializing. He is content. However, when you become free, if you choose, you can enjoy entertainment far more than before because you are free from the hunger-need for it. The happiness that I am talking about now is not the escape-from-misery kind. It is really the only happiness. It is the joy that results from being your own real Self. The more we are our real Self, the
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more we feel joyous. Sense-joy of the world is accomplished not because of the thing or the person out there with whom we associate it. It is accomplished by satisfying and stilling the thoughts of wanting to acquire or control or seek the approval of that person or thing. When we quiet those thoughts, we feel our Self and are happier. The quieter the mind is, the more we can just be. The more we abide our real Self, the more joyous we feel! T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g y o u h a v e g o t t o e x p e r i e n c e f o r y o u r s e l f t h a t t h e q u i e t e r y o u g e t y o u r m i n d , t h e happier you are. It is good to play with this. Experiment with it until you see it. Whatever that joy was, it always resulted in quieting of the mind, and then you felt happy. Seeing this, you will begin to let go of attaching happiness to people and things. You will begin to see that the joy is only in you abiding as your very own Self. Then, when you discover this, you are not going to look for joy where it is not. You will immediately let go and just be. And finally, you reach the place where you need no o n e a n d n o t h i n g t o b e h a p p y y o u j u s t a r e h a p p y a l l t h e t i m e ! Are there any questions on this? I guess intellectually it is seen by everyone? Whether you see it t h r o u g h y o u r o w n m i n d s e y e o r n o t , y o u s h o u l d h a v e i t i n t e l l e c t u a l l y a t f i r s t , t h e n e x p e r i m e n t w i t h i t , t e s t i t o u t , a n d y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r t h a t t h i s i s s o t h a t e v e r y t i m e y o u f e e l h a p p y , y o u r m i n d i s q u i e t and at ease, and that what you attributed to the person or thing outside of you is something going on within you. Quieting of your mind, you abide more as your Self. Then, when you see this, you will not bog down anymore. Because the moment you become unhappy, you will know where to look to re-establish the happiness!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q : T h a t w o u l d b e w i t h i n y o u r s e l f , w o u l d n t i t ? Lester: Yes, but one must first recognize that the happiness is not the external person or the thing, but the quieting of the thoughts of desire for the person or thing, which allows you to go within and j u s t b e y o u r S e l f , i . e . , j u s t b e . Wh e n y o u r m i n d i s o n t h i n g s o u t t h e r e , y o u r e n o t j u s t b e i n g , y o u r e b e i n g i n v o l v e d w i t h e x t e r n a l s . B u t I s a y t h e k e y i s s e e i n g j u s t t h a t p o i n t t h a t y o u r h a p p i n e s s i s t h e quieting of your mind through the satisfying of the desire, which stills the hunger thoughts for the thing and allows you to just be. When you actually see that in your own mind, you can do it directly. (You c a n l e t g o o f t h o s e t h o u g h t s w i t h o u t a c h i e v i n g t h e p e r s o n o r t h e t h i n g a n d i m m e d i a t e l y y o u r e h a p p y ! ) I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u m o v e t o w a r d h a p p i n e s s i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f w h e r e i t r e a l l y i s i n y o u , n o t i n the externals. In that way you establish a state of happiness that is continuous. Q: I have heard this before and did not receive it. L e s t e r : A l l r i g h t , b e f o r e i t w a s j u s t a n i n t e l l e c t u a l t h i n g o r y o u d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d a n d s o i t s a s t h o u g h i t w e r e n e wn o w . B u t , I a l w a y s f e e l a s t h o u g h I ms a y i n g t h e s a m e t h i n g o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n , f r o mt h i s s i d e , f r o mt h a t s i d e , f r o ma n o t h e r s i d e b u t i t s a l w a y s t h e s a m e t h i n g . H o w e v e r , u n t i l y o u s e e i t i n y o u r o w n m i n d s e y e , u n t i l y o u r e c o g n i z e i t , u n t i l y o u r e a l i z e i t , i t i s n t m e a n i n g f u l t o y o u . Q : I t s o u n d s a s t h o u g h y o u r e s a y i n g w e s h o u l d n o t d e s i r e a u t o m o b i l e s , w e s h o u l d n o t d e s i r e homes, we should not desire wives or sweethearts, we should not desire anything, but become nothing. Lester: Everything was right but the last part of your sentence. You become everything instead of nothing. Become everything and you need nothing. Desire is lack and the consciousness of separation, the source of all trouble. If you are everything, the All, you need nothing. See, everything was right d o w n t o t h a t l a s t p a r t o f y o u r s e n t e n c e j u s t r e v e r s e t h a t a n d y o u v e g o t i t . O . K . ? Q: If we become everything, then we become the wife, then we become the World, we become
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everything. Instead of separating ourselves, we become the other one. L e s t e r : Y e s . A n d t h a t i s t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l f e e l i n g s !T h a t s t h e h i g h e s t w h e n y o u b e c o m e t h e other one. When you let go of your feeling of separation, that identity is love in its highest form. In o t h e r w o r d s , y o u t h i n k t h a t s h e d i d n t b r e a k t h e d i s h , w e b r o k e t h e d i s h ; s h e d i d n t s p e n d m o n e y o n a dress, we spent the money. This is the highest love. Q : I b e c o m e t h e a u t o m o b i l e , t h e r e f o r e I d o n t d e s i r e t h e a u t o m o b i l e . O r , y o u b e c o m e e v e r y t h i n g , you become... L e s t e r : N o w , y o u r e g o i n g t o h a v e t o w o r k t h i s o u t f o r y o u r s e l f . Y o u a r e g o i n g t o h a v e t o r e a l i z e that when you become everything and feel that you need nothing, then the slightest thought for something will bring it to you immediately. Q : D e s i r e i s , I h a v e n t g o t i t ! ? L e s t e r : Y e s !Y o u c r e a t e a n a r t i f i c i a l l a c k , y o u c r e a t e a l i e w h e n y o u s a y , I h a v e n t g o t i t . D e s i r e c a u s e s y o u t o f e e l I h a v e n o t . A n d t h i s w i l l c a u s e y o u t o h a v e n o t !L e t g o o f d e s i r e a n d y o u f e e l I h a v e . T h i s c a u s e s t h i n g s t o c o m e t o y o u . Q : I f I l o o k a t t h e w o r l d a s t h o u g h I mw r i t i n g a n o v e l a n d s a y I a mt h e c h a r a c t e r s , I ma l l t h e s e c r e a t u r e s t h a t I c r e a t e i n m y s t o r y . A n d y e t t h i s i s w h a t I ml i v i n g t o d a y , a r e n t I ?I c r e a t e m y d i f f i c u l t i e s ; I mw r i t i n g t h i s s t o r y . I n s t e a d o f d o i n g t h a t , I s h o u l d s a y I a mt h e p o w e r , a n d w h y b o t h e r c r e a t i n g l i m i t a t i o n s ?I d o n t n e e d t o . S o , I s t o p i t . B u t w h a t d o I h a v e w h e n I d o n t c r e a t e ? L e s t e r : Wh a t d o y o u h a v e w h e n y o u d o n t c r e a t e ?E v e r y t h i n g t h a t y o u r e a l l y w a n t y o u r p u r e Beingness. Q: I have peace. L e s t e r : Y e s . Y o u a r e t h e A l l e v e r y t h i n g i s i n y o u . F e e l i n g t h a t w a y p u t s y o u c o m p l e t e l y a t peace. Q : U n t i l t h e p h o n e r i n g s ; t h e n I mr i g h t b a c k i n m y h a b i t s . L e s t e r : D o n t a l l o wa l i t t l e b e l l t o p u s h y o u a r o u n d t h a t w a y . Again, I say each one has to realize this for himself or herself, but when he or she does, then happiness can be made permanent, because then you look for happiness where it is and you stop l o o k i n g f o r i t w h e r e i t i s n t . T h e r e s n o h a p p i n e s s i n p e o p l e o r t h i n g s . H a p p i n e s s i s o u r b a s i c n a t u r e . Happiness is our very own beingness. And when we are only being, we are infinitely happy. Yes, when we are only being, and nothing else, we are infinitely happy! Q: In other words, when you have these various things, like you have an automobile, you utilize that automobile but you have no attachment to it, in order to attain the feeling of joy. Because if you become attached to that automobile, then that attachment has some sort of hold on you wherein you have a responsibility to it. Lester: Yes. The greater the attachment the greater the unhappiness. (Likewise, the greater the a v e r s i o n , t h e g r e a t e r t h e u n h a p p i n e s s . ) I t s u n f r e e t o b e a t t a c h e d t o a n y t h i n g . Y o u c a n h a v e t h i n g s a n d not be attached to them. Be attached to them and you are necessarily putting yourself through unhappiness. Q : S o w h e n y o u r e i n a s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s , t h a t d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t y o u r e a n e t h e r e a l b e i n g w h o floats from spot to spot. That means that you are in that state where you know the Truth and thereby d o n t h a v e t o g o t h r o u g h a l l t h e h a b i t s t h a t h a v e b e e n p i l e d u p o n y o u b y y o u r e g o .
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L e s t e r : Y e s . I t s k n o w i n g y o u r i n f i n i t e B e i n g n e s s t h a t i s e t e r n a l a n d n e v e r c h a n g e s . T h e n t h i s world cannot touch you. You see it as a fiction, a dream. You witness it. You move through life with no attachments and no aversions. Then no one and no thing can disturb you, and you have the infinite peace and joy that is constant. Q: When I try to explain this to people they think that I become a shadow or substance which vanishes from sight of everybody, or something like that. Lester: The only difference between a fully realized individual living in the world and one who is not is his point of view of everything. An unrealized person identifies with a single limited body-mind. A realized person identifies with everything, every being, every atom and sees them as his Self. He sees the beingness in everything as his beingness. Q: Therefore getting joy out of everything that happens? L e s t e r : N o , y o u r v e r y n a t u r e i s j o y . Y o u d o n t g e t i t o u t o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a p p e n s y o u r b a s i c nature is unlimited joy. That is your natural state! No need to get it! Q: Therefore being in a state of joy perpetually? L e s t e r : Y e s . A s l o n g a s y o u d o n t l o c k i t o n t o a p e r s o n o r t h i n g , i t s t h e r e a l l t h e t i m e . B u t i f y o u s a y y o u c a n t h a v e j o y u n l e s s y o u d o o r h a v e s o m e t h i n g , y o u l i m i t y o u r j o y . T h e n a t u r a l s t a t e i s unlimited joy. This is the real natural state. The natural state is being infinite, but we superimpose over that all these ideas of limitation, of needs, attachments and aversions that block out this infinite joy that is natural. If a being would do absolutely nothing, he would be this infinite Being. He would then be only a witness. Q : B u t y o u c a n s t i l l p u t i n a h a r d d a y s w o r k ? Lester: Oh, yes. You go through life like everyone else. Q : B u t i t s y o u r a t t i t u d e . L e s t e r : R i g h t y o u s e e t h i n g s d i f f e r e n t l y . Y o u s e e y o u r s e l f a s a w i t n e s s r a t h e r t h a n a d o e r . Q : I t s t h e r e b u t y o u r e d e t a c h e d s o m e w h a t f r o mi t . I t s a n e e r i e f e e l i n g s o m e t i m e s . L e s t e r : I t s a n i c e f e e l i n g , i s n t i t ?I t s e e r i e b e c a u s e y o u r e n o t u s e d t o i t . Wh e n y o u g e t u s e d t o i t , i t s d e a r i e r a t h e r t h a n e e r i e ! Q : L e s t e r , i s t h i s t h i n g r e a l l y e a s y , a n d w e r e m a k i n g i t h a r d ? Lester: Yes. You are so right! All your difficulty is keeping yourself limited. You have compounded limitations on top of limitations and are holding on to them in your thoughts. Therein lies your difficulty. You must let go of all your thoughts. Every thought has limitation in it. Drop all your thoughts and w h a t i s l e f t o v e r i s y o u i n y o u r i n f i n i t e h a p p i n e s s y o u r B e i n g n e s s . T h e n y o u w i l l r e a l i z e t h a t i t i s a s easy for you to discover that you are an infinite Being with infinite happiness as it is for you to discover that you are a male or a female! ***

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 I f y o u h a v e a c a r , y o u d o n o t s a y y o u a r e t h e c a r . Wh y t h e n , i f y o u h a v e a b o d y , d o y o u s a y y o u a r e t h e b o d y ? Lester Levenson
Session 15 THE BODY Why should we have need for this body? If we are infinite beings, why do we need a body? Is it possible that being born into a body shows that we are ignorant of our infinite Being? Is it an indictment right in its own de facto situation? These and other things are worth considering as you reflect on some of the following thoughts. As in the previous sections, do not analyze, simply allow. *** T h e b o d y i s t h e g r e a t e s t s h a c k l e , i m p r i s o n m e n t t h a t w e h a v e t h e g r e a t e s t o b s t a c l e w e h a v e p l a c e d in our way. *** The only way out of all difficulties is to know that you are not the body. *** We came into this world to be a body in order to learn that we are not a body. *** The worst habit we have gotten into over the millenniums is that we believe we are this body. *** T h e b o d y i s a s l o wa c t i o n m a c h i n e t h a t s a l l i t i s . *** The desire to survive as a body is the basis for all our present aberrated behavior. Everyone wants approval (love), struggles hard for it, spends almost all his effort in life to attain it. As an infant, as a child, in our formative years we believed our parents would not take care of us if they did not approve of us and we would therefore die! So we developed perverted aberrated behavior patterns through suppressing our own wishes and desires in order to get that approval from our parents, which meant survival. The patterns are so deeply subconscious because of being formed in the very first days and years of our life and with so much suppression, that it is extremely difficult to reopen and consciously examine them now. However, once we know that we are not the body, all this behavior is gone. ***
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Y o u f e a r t h a t i f t h e b o d y i s n t y o u a r e n o t . *** All fear is either directly or indirectly the fear of the body dying. *** Y o u r e i n f i n i t e a n d t h e r e s n o t h i n g c o m p l i c a t e d a b o u t t h a t , b u t t h e h a b i t o f b e i n g a b o d y i s s o s t r o n g it complicates and overwhelms your abiding as your Self. *** The entire body of misery relates to the physical body. The entire body of happiness is being what you are, the Self. Happiness is exactly what you are. Misery is exactly what you are not. The natural s t a t e i s h a p p i n e s s . T h e a r t i f i c i a l l y s e l f i m p o s e d s t a t e i s m i s e r y . T h a t i s t h e c h o i c e t o s a y t h a t t h e body is real or the Self is real. *** H o wa t t a c h e d a r e y o u t o t h e b o d y ?T h a t s h o wa t t a c h e d y o u a r e t o m i s e r y . *** T h i s b o d y i s n o t h i n g b u t a d y i n g m e c h a n i s m f r o mb i r t h t i l l d e a t h . *** If you have a car you do not say that you are the car. Why then, if you have a body, do you say you are the body? *** Sleep is the pleasure of non-bodily existence. *** You actually drop your body when you are in deep sleep and recreate it in the morning when you w a k e u p . T h e r e s n o d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n s l e e p a n d d e a t h e x c e p t t h a t a f t e r d e a t h y o u p i c k u p a d i f f e r e n t body while after sleep you pick up the same body. The time between sleep-bodies is short and the time between death-bodies is long. *** Wrong belief that one is a body is the basic cause of desire and aversion. ***
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We s h o u l d n t p a y t o o m u c h a t t e n t i o n t o t h e b o d y . G i v e i t w h a t i t n e e d s a n d n o m o r e . D o i t w i t h o u t attachment. *** Because of the extreme limitation of the human body, the incentive to be free is great. It affords the greatest prod for growth. *** To make your body perfect and to live in a consciousness of the body is not as high as to live with an imperfect body in a consciousness of your Self. *** I t s a h i g h e r s t a t e t o h a v e a s i c k b o d y a n d n o t i d e n t i f y w i t h i t . A n d t h a t s w h y c e r t a i n Ma s t e r s d o that. They will go through life with a weak or sick body, all the time maintaining their peace and equanimity. And they welcome it because it is an opportunity to be constantly reminded that they are not the body. *** T h e b o d y i s t h e d i s e a s e n o t t h e s i c k n e s s o f i t . *** A perfect body can keep one in bondage as well as an imperfect one can. *** I f y o u k n o wt h a t y o u a r e n o t t h e b o d y , y o u a r e n o t t h e m i n d s o w h a t i f t h e y h u r t ? *** The body is just a thought. Everything about the body is a thought. *** All functions of the body at one time had to be done consciously before they became unconscious. *** People are not aware that they run their bodies entirely. Subconsciously, we know more chemistry than all chemists today know consciously. ***

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The mind is the switchboard for the nervous system of the body. *** T h e b o d y i s n o t h i n g b u t a r o b o t , c o n t r o l l e d b y u s . We c r e a t e i t a n d t h e n s a y , T h a t s I . *** It makes just as much sense to identify with this body as it does to identify with a body on a movie screen. *** Me a n d m i n e a r e b i n d e r s t o t h i s b o d y a n d t o p o s s e s s i o n s . *** Some people who take no care of the body are very attached to the body. It is our attitude toward the body that counts. *** When you think of the body as God that is conceit. *** I f y o u t h i n k y o u a r e t h e b o d y , t h e n m a k e i t p e r f e c t . I f y o u t h i n k y o u a r e t h e S e l f , t h e n i t d o e s n t matter. *** Body equals pain and Self equals infinite joy. *** The basic motivational force in body that operates the physical body. *** I a mt h e b o d y , i s I g n o r a n c e . T h e b o d y i s n o t a p a r t f r o mt h e S e l f , i s K n o w l e d g e . *** The body is one of the least things that we can have. *** All trouble starts with wanting to be a body.
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*** The body operates on the law of cause and effect, and is an effect of the mind. *** There is always a decision to leave the body when we do. *** Misery is caused only by identifying with the body. *** Give the body its due. Keep the body healthy etc., and then forget it. *** The healthiest foods are fruits and vegetables from the flower of the plant. The unhealthiest foods are flesh. *** Cooking kills the vitality. We should eat fruits and vegetables uncooked. *** Exercise is good if one believes it is good. *** The best method of exercise is seeing cosmic energy flowing in and out of the muscles and body as they are tensed and relaxed. *** We should see every body as our body. *** Y o u a r e s o c o n v i n c e d y o u a r e t h e b o d y t h a t y o u d o n t w a n t t o l o o k a w a y f r o mi t , a n d t h e r e f o r e y o u look away from your Self. *** You feel yourself as you no matter what body you have on you. ***

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Y o u r e o n l y f r e e w h e n y o u k n o wt h a t y o u r e n o t t h e b o d y . *** If you want immortality, stop holding onto the body. *** O n c e y o u k n o wy o u a r e n o t t h e b o d y , i t d o e s n t m a t t e r w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e b o d y . *** Be a body and be forever submerged in misery. Be your Self and be forever at peace. *** The body is like a strait-jacket when you see the Truth. *** You have the concept that you are only that body and only through that body can you be s o m e w h e r e . T h a t s n o t t r u e . I f y o u w o u l d s e e t h e T r u t h y o u w o u l d s e e e v e r y t h i n g g o i n g o n a n y w h e r e right now. *** When you see you are not a separate individual, you transcend the physical, astral and causal bodies. Separate individuality is the cause of body form. You should see your individuality as the one Being. *** In the process of realizing what you are you will see all bodies as your bodies. *** A n u n u s u a l t h i n g h a p p e n s y o u b e c o m e a l l b e i n g s . Y o u g i v e u p b e i n g o n e b o d y a n d b e c o m e a l l bodies. But the bodies appear different from the way they look to you now. They become a flimsy, dream-like substance. *** Nothing that the body does should shake you from abiding as your Self. *** We should live our way of life so that we are not identifying with this extremely limited, garbage producing vehicle called the body. It only cuts off joy, because we attach joy to it when really the joy is nothing but the experiencing of our real Self. Our way of life should be to be not the body, but be
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the witness of it. *** I t s i m p o s s i b l e t o f i n d G o d i f w e r e a c c e p t i n g t h e b o d y a n d t h e w o r l d a s r e a l . Wh e n y o u a r e t h e I n f i n i t e S e l f y o u d o n t s e e b o d i e s , y o u s e e o n l y t h e B e i n g n e s s i n t h e m . *** T o b e n o t t h e b o d y i s a b e g i n n i n g s t e p . A s l o n g a s y o u a r e t r y i n g t o b e t h e b o d y y o u h a v e n t g o t a c h a n c e o f s e e i n g t h e T r u t h b e c a u s e t h e T r u t h i s y o u r e i n f i n i t e a n d t h e b o d y i s a t t h e o p p o s i t e e n d o f i n f i n i t y . I t s t h e m o s t l i m i t e d t h i n g y o u c a n b e u n l e s s y o u w a n t t o b e a s t o n e . *** S a y i n g I a ma b o d y , i s t a n t a m o u n t t o s a y i n g , I mn o t t h e l i m i t l e s s S e l f , I a ma l i m i t e d b o d y . *** Identify with your body and the extreme limitations of a body are yours. Identify with your Self and you are all bodies, all things, all knowledge and power, with no limits, and totally free! *** Be not the body and the world is a dream, a beautiful and perfect dream. *** There is a physical, astral and causal body. When you know what you are, you let go of all bodies. When you let go of the concept of being a body, you go all the way to the top. This physical plane is the greatest because in it we can transcend all planes and be Free! *** We have free will to identify with the body or to identify with our unlimited Self. *** If you think the body is so great, after realizing your Self you can make a thousand of them, all alike, all perfect! *** Die to the body and you die to death! ***

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 D e v e l o p t h e h a b i t o f h o n e s t i n t r o s p e c t i o n b y a s k i n g y o u r s e l f , Wh e n e v e r d i d I c a u s e t h i s t o h a p p e n t o m e ? Lester Levenson
Session 16 RESPONSIBILITY OUR MASTERSHIP If you want one practical key for quickly reaching the Goal, I would recommend that you take full responsibility for everything that happens to you. We have lost sight of our mastership and have deluded ourselves into thinking we are victims in a World that controls us, that pushes us around. It i s n t s o !We a r e c a u s i n g w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g t o u s b y g i v i n g p o w e r , o u r p o w e r , t o t h e e x t e r n a l Wo r l d . I f you want to regain your control, you must take full responsibility. How to regain your control? Examine your thinking and correct it. Develop the habit of honest i n t r o s p e c t i o n b y a s k i n g y o u r s e l f , Wh e r e i n d i d I c a u s e t h i s t o h a p p e n t o m e ? T h e n h o l d i t u n t i l t h e thought that caused the happening comes out of the subconscious into the conscious plane. Then you recognize your mastership, that you caused that pleasant or unpleasant experience to happen to you. T h e m o r e y o u d o t h i s , t h e e a s i e r i t b e c o m e s a n d t h e m o r e a b l e y o u b e c o m e , u n t i l f i n a l l y y o u recognize that you were always the master.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: So I myself am my own block, and other people do not influence me? L e s t e r : Y e s . I t s n o t w h a t o t h e r p e o p l e s a y ; i f y o u f o l l o wt h e i r t h i n k i n g , i t s b e c a u s e y o u w a n t t o . Q: Because I think they know more than I do? L e s t e r : Y o u k n o we v e r y t h i n g . Y o u v e g o t t o a c c e p t t h i s a s a p r e m i s e a t l e a s t , i f y o u w a n t t o g r o w . Q: Well, I can accept that a part of me knows everything, but that part of me does not appear to be operating, because my World out there is not in good shape? L e s t e r : I t d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o b e o p e r a t i n g ?Y o u d o n t o p e r a t e t h a t p a r t o f y o u ?T h a t i s t h e w a y y o u r e t a l k i n g !N o , y o u o p e r a t e i t . Y o u c h o o s e n o t t o u s e y o u r o m n i s c i e n c e , y o u r b a s i c n a t u r e . Y o u c h o o s e t o b e i g n o r a n t o f y o u r o m n i s c i e n c e , b y s a y i n g , I a ma l i m i t e d m i n d b o d y . T h a t s y o u r c h o i c e . Wh e n y o u c h o o s e t o i d e n t i f y w i t h y o u r r e a l S e l f , t h e n y o u l l s e e t h a t y o u a l w a y s w e r e o m n i s c i e n t , a r e r i g h t n o w , a n d a l w a y s w i l l b e ; a n d y o u l l s t o p s a y i n g y o u r e n o t . Q: You mean I can actually make that choice? Lester: Yes, not only can you, someday you will. When you get tired enough of all this limitation y o u h a v e s e t u p f o r y o u r s e l f , t h e n y o u l l m a k e t h a t c h o i c e . Wh o t h i n k s a l l y o u r t h o u g h t s ?Y o u d o !I t s a l l y o u r d o i n g . Wh a t w e a c c e p t i s w h a t w e c h o o s e t o a c c e p t . I t s a l w a y s o u r c h o i c e . I t i s n o wo u r c h o i c e t o b e e x t r e m e l y l i m i t e d b o d i e s . A n d w h e n y o u d o n t a c c e p t y o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h a t , y o u h a v e n o p o s s i b i l i t y o f g e t t i n g o u t o f t h a t e x t r e m e limitation.
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Q: I say I want to get out of that limitation and think I want to get out of that limitation, and then w h e n c e r t a i n t h i n g s h a p p e n , I j u s t d o n t g e t o u t ; I mr i g h t t h e r e i n t h a t l i m i t a t i o n . Lester: What you need to do is not to say it, but want it so strongly that you override the contrary unconscious habits and do it! Q: Overriding the unconscious habits is hard to do because they keep sneaking up on you and you d o n t r e a l i z e y o u v e g o t t h e m . Lester: It depends on how strong your desire is for the thing that you want as to whether the unconscious habits override it. We h a v e i n f i n i t e p o w e r , i n f i n i t e w i l l a n d w h e n m a n s o w i l l s , h e s i m m e d i a t e l y s e t f r e e . Q: Gee, that sounds so easy. L e s t e r : T h a t s t h e e a s i e s t w a y t o d o i t . J u s t w i l l i t !A n d i t s p o s s i b l e f o r e v e r y o n e o f u s , b e c a u s e w e a r e i n f i n i t e a n d t h e r e f o r e h a v e i n f i n i t e w i l l p o w e r . A n d t h e r e a s o n w e d o n t d o i t i s t h a t w e d o n t have enough desire for it. We still have more desire to be limited bodies. Q: I believe that anyone would take the other choice, if he really had a choice. L e s t e r : O h , i f y o u h a d a c h o i c e , p a r d o n m e !( L a u g h t e r ) Y o u s e e w h a t s h a p p e n e d ?Y o u r e c o n v i n c e d w e d o n t h a v e t h e c h o i c e . Q: No, speaking from experience, sometimes when you really want something, it seems like the opposite happens. Lester: Everything you really wanted strongly in your life you got, because the mind is only c r e a t i v e . T h e s e a r e t h i n g s y o u h a v e g o t t o d i g o u t a n d r e c o g n i z e f o r y o u r s e l f . Y o u r e g e t t i n g e x a c t l y w h a t y o u w a n t , a s i s e v e r y o n e . B e c a u s e y o u d o n t l o o k a t y o u r t h o u g h t s a n d y o u c a l l t h e m u n c o n s c i o u s d o e s n o t m e a n y o u d o n t h a v e t h e m . Q : I ma f r a i d o f m y u n c o n s c i o u s , d i d y o u k n o wt h a t ? Lester: How does that help you see your unconscious thoughts? Q: Consciously, I tell them to go away. Lester: So, they stay operative all the time. Thoughts have no will of their own. You have the will. U n l e s s y o u p u l l t h e mu p i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d l o o k a t t h e m , y o u c a n t l e t g o o f t h e m . Wh e n y o u s e e t h e mc o n s c i o u s l y , y o u l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y l e t g o o f t h e m . Q: How can you become conscious of your unconscious thoughts? L e s t e r : B y p r a c t i c e . J u s t t h e w a y y o u r e d o i n g i t n o w ; a n y t h i n g y o u w a n t t o t h i n k o f c o m e s t o y o u r m i n d . Wh a t y o u a r e g o i n g t o s a y t o m e f i v e m i n u t e s f r o mn o wi s n o t c o n s c i o u s r i g h t n o w , i t s u n c o n s c i o u s . F i v e m i n u t e s f r o mn o wy o u l l p u l l u p w h a t y o u w a n t . N o wi f w e m a k e i t a h a b i t o f p u l l i n g u p t h o u g h t s , w e c a n d o i t e a s i l y . T h e m o r e w e p r a c t i c e i t , t h e e a s i e r i t i s t o d o . I t s a g o o d h a b i t a n d s a v e s a lot of unnecessary living out karma. Honest introspection works quickly and beautifully like a surgeon with a knife. We control the unconscious; we keep back there all that we want to keep back there, and then when we want it up in the conscious, we pull it up. Q: You really believe that we control it? Lester: Do I control your unconscious?

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Q : N o , I d o n t t h i n k y o u d o . Lester: Then who does? Q : We l l , I d o n t k n o w . I t h i n k i t s u n c o n s c i o u s c o n t r o l . L e s t e r : I t s y o u r u n c o n s c i o u s . C a n y o u r e m e m b e r t h i n g s t h a t h a p p e n e d y e s t e r d a y t h a t y o u r e n o t conscious of? What did you have for breakfast yesterday? Q: Ham and eggs! Lester: All right, a minute ago that was unconscious, and now it is up in your consciousness, right? Do you have control of your unconscious? Can you pull things up from it? You did just then! Q: But, you see that does not have any emotional impact, what I had for breakfast. Lester: It had a good emotional impact. You showed you liked it. However, it does not matter whether there is an emotional impact. What matters is the desire to pull up something from your unconscious. Q : B u t y o u t r i g g e r e d h e r b r i n g i n g i t u p . S h e w o u l d n t h a v e b r o u g h t t h a t u p o t h e r w i s e . L e s t e r : Y e s , b u t s o c a n s h e . S h e w a n t e d t o . I f s h e h a d n o t w a n t e d t o s h e w o u l d n t h a v e remembered. Pleasant things are easy to bring up and unpleasant things are difficult because we have little desire to bring up the unpleasant. Q: Do you have to go through this phase of clearing up the unconscious before you can accept the theory that you are unlimited? Lester: It is necessary in the beginning and it also makes for rapid progress. Later, after much progress, you can will it out. There are basically two ways of growing: one is eliminating the mind, the sub-conscious; the other is putting in the positive, by seeing who and what you are. Q : Wh e n y o u p u t i n t h e p o s i t i v e d o e s n t t h e o p p o s i t e s e e mt o t a k e e f f e c t ? L e s t e r : S o m e t i m e s . H o w e v e r ; w h e n y o u s e e y o u r r e a l B e i n g n e s s y o u l l s c o r c h t h e o p p o s i t e . Y o u l l s a y , T h a t s r i d i c u l o u s t o r e m a i n m i s e r a b l e , s i c k , u n h a p p y , e t c . a n d y o u l l b e g i n t o s c o r c h i t . T h e r e i s a t e n d e n c y i n t h e d i r e c t i o n y o u r e a s k i n g . I f I s a y h o t y o u t h i n k o f c o l d , r i g h t ?I f I s a y u p i t i m p l i e s d o w n . T h a t i s i n t h e n a t u r e o f t h o u g h t i t s e l f . B u t I w o u l d n t u s e t h a t t o i m p l y t h a t w e c a n t wipe out the negative by seeing the positive that we are, because we can. Q : We l l , I d o n t k n o w . Y o u s e e , a t t h e h o s p i t a l I w e n t a r o u n d t r y i n g t o u s e l i g h t , l o v e a n d p e a c e because I thought that these were the things that were essential. And it seemed like the more I tried to dwell on light, love and peace the worse things got. L e s t e r : L o v e i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a n t b e t u r n e d o n a n d o f f . E i t h e r y o u v e g o t i t o r y o u h a v e n t . I f y o u h a v e l o v e y o u m a y s a y h o r r i b l e t h i n g s t o p e o p l e a n d t h e y d o n t m i n d i t . S o t h i s t h i n g c a l l e d l o v e i s n t s o m e t h i n g w e c a n t u r n o n a n d o f f l i k e a f a u c e t . We c a n o n l y e x p r e s s i t t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t w e h a v e it. Now, if you have love for these people you would want them to have what they want. Q : S o w h a t I md o i n g i s p l a y i n g a n e g o g a m e ? L e s t e r : Y e s , C a n y o u s e e i t ?Wh e n y o u s e e i t , t h a t s g o o d . T h e n y o u w i l l , I h o p e , l e t g o o f i t . Q: By the way, you mentioned before that by bringing up the subconscious you could eliminate karma. How? L e s t e r : K a r m a i s i n t h e t h o u g h t , n o t i n t h e a c t . Wh e n y o u d o s o m e t h i n g , i t s t h e t h o u g h t t h a t s
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carried over in the subconscious that instigates the act next time. Eliminate subconscious thought and y o u e l i m i n a t e f u t u r e k a r m a . I t s t h e t h o u g h t t h a t c a r r i e s o v e r f r o ml i f e t i m e t o l i f e t i m e . S o i f y o u b r i n g t h e t h o u g h t u p a n d y o u r e v e r s e i t , k a r m i c a l l y i t s g o n e . Q: I want to know how to control what I think. I do not feel I can control how I think. Lester: You do it by first accepting the idea that you can. Then you try it and when you succeed once; when you succeed once then you know you can try it again. When you succeed twice, the second time is easier. The third time is yet easier than the first two, etc. The more you do it the easier it gets. This leads to complete control and freedom. Q: By control you mean changing your thinking? L e s t e r : Y e s . We c o n t r o l a l l o u r t h i n k i n g . I f I d o s o m e t h i n g w r o n g i t s b e c a u s e I d e c i d e t o c a r r y o u t s o m e t h i n g w r o n g , t h a t s a l l . A n d i f I m a k e i t u n c o n s c i o u s , I d o i t . D i d I h e a r y o u s a y , T a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ? t h a t s i t !I f y o u w a n t t o g r o wy o u m u s t t a k e f u l l responsibility for everything you do, for everything that happens to you. Trace all happenings to their originating thought in your mind. Q: I still feel I can hurt people. L e s t e r : Y o u c a n t . P e o p l e h u r t t h e m s e l v e s ; y o u d o n t h u r t t h e m . Q: I wish I could finally see that. L e s t e r : I c a l l y o u s t u p i d . Y o u v e g o t a c e r t a i n r e a c t i o n t h e r e , r i g h t ?I t w a s n t g o o d , w a s i t ?Wh o m a d e y o u f e e l s a d ?Y o u t h o u g h t , We l l , h e c a l l e d m e s t u p i d , w e l l , I mg o i n g t o f e e l s a d . A l l r i g h t , n o wI s a y , Y o u r e b r i l l i a n t . Y o u t h o u g h t , H e c a l l e d m e b r i l l i a n t , I mg o i n g t o f e e l h a p p y . B u t y o u d o t h e u p a n d d o w n i n y o u r f e e l i n g ; I d o n t d o i t . I c o m e o u t w i t h a s o u n d s t u p i d b r i l l i a n t a n d y o u c h o o s e t h e w a y y o u f e e l a b o u t i t . I t s j u s t a l i t t l e b i t o f s o u n d e n e r g y t h a t w e n t f r o mm e t o you, to your ears, and you felt first sad, then happy. You did all the doing there. Can you see that? Q : We l l , i f I c a n t h u r t a n y o n e , I c a n t h e l p a n y o n e e i t h e r ! L e s t e r : Y e s , t h a t s t r u e . Q : T h i s b u s i n e s s o f t r y i n g t o p u t i n a p o s i t i v e t h o u g h t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e n e g a t i v e i s i t b e c a u s e w h i l e y o u r e p u t t i n g i n t h e p o s i t i v e , y o u r e h o l d i n g o n t o w h a t y o u r e f i g h t i n g ? L e s t e r : Y e s . Wh e n y o u w a n t t o d o i t e n o u g h , y o u l l j u s t d o i t . Q : Wh e n y o u d o t h a t , y o u j u s t l e t g o o f i t . Y o u d o n t h o l d i t i n m i n d a n d i t i s n t a n y m o r e ? Lester: Right! When the conscious desire to let go is stronger than the unconscious wish to hold on, then you let go. These habits are very strong; the unconscious wish for them is very strong. The conscious wish has to be stronger to override it. Q : T h e n i f y o u h a v e a c o n s c i o u s w i s h a n d y o u r e t r y i n g t o a c c o m p l i s h s o m e t h i n g a n d y o u c a n t d o i t , i t s b e c a u s e y o u h a v e a s u b c o n s c i o u s h a b i t t h a t i s b l o c k i n g y o u . S o h o wd o y o u g e t r i d o f t h a t s u b c o n s c i o u s w i s h t h a t s b l o c k i n g y o u ? Lester: By making the conscious wish stronger. Or, by pulling up the unconscious wish to the c o n t r a r y a n d l o o k i n g a t i t . Wh e n y o u s e e i t , y o u a u t o m a t i c a l l y l e t g o o f i t ; y o u w o n t h o l d i t d o w n a n y more. Q : I w a n t t o m e d i t a t e w e l l a n d I c a n t s e e mt o .
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Lester: How many hours a day do you practice meditation? Q : T h r e e q u a r t e r s o f a n h o u r i n t h e m o r n i n g . Wh e n I mw o r k i n g I c a n t d o a n y m o r e . Lester: How many hours a day do you do the opposite? Q: An awful lot of hours. L e s t e r : T h a t s w h y i t s d i f f i c u l t . N o w , o u t o f a s i x t e e n h o u r d a y i f y o u s p e n t e i g h t h o u r s t r y i n g t o m e d i t a t e a n d e i g h t h o u r s i n t h e w o r l d , y o u d h a v e a n e v e n p u s h f o r a n d a g a i n s t i t i n y o u r d a i l y d o i n g . Meditating is quieting the mind. Activity in the world is doing the opposite. Q : B u t e v e n d u r i n g t h e d a y w h e n I t r y t o t h i n k o f G o d , I c a n t . Lester: Because your mental habit is so strongly on things of the world and every day you develop t h a t h a b i t f u r t h e r . S o w h e n y o u t a k e s o m e s h o r t t i m e o f f a n d t r y t o d o t h e o p p o s i t e , y o u d o n t f i n d i t e a s y . Y o u v e g o t t o t a k e m o r e a n d m o r e t i m e o f f f o r m e d i t a t i n g u n t i l y o u s u c c e e d . Q: You mean by increasing the desire for meditation, the opportunity will present itself? L e s t e r : Y e s , a n d t h e r e f o r e y o u w i l l s u c c e e d . I f y o u r d e s i r e f o r m e d i t a t i o n w e r e i n t e n s e , y o u d b e meditating rather than doing other things. Then, you would become able to keep your mind on God while in the world. Q: When you reach Oneness in meditation, do you have to regress back into your separateness? L e s t e r : Y e s , w h e n y o u f i r s t s e e i t , i t s a t r e m e n d o u s e x p e r i e n c e a n d y o u l l n e v e r f o r g e t . B u t t h e mind has not been undone and therefore re-emerges. But seeing it scorches a good part of the mind each time you see it. Q: The more you see it then... L e s t e r : T h e m o r e y o u s c o r c h t h e m i n d , u n t i l t h e m i n d i s t o t a l l y u n d o n e . T h e n y o u r e i n t h e s t e a d y state. You regress no more. I t s p o s s i b l e t o s e e a l l t h e w a y , s e e t h e O n e n e s s , b y m o m e n t a r i l y s u b m e r g i n g t h e m i n d . B u t a s l o n g a s t h a t m i n d i s n o t u n d o n e i t w i l l r e e m e r g e . B u t y o u l l n e v e r l e t g o o n c e y o u d r o p i n t o t h a t s t a t e o f O n e n e s s . Y o u l l g o i n t o i t a g a i n a n d a g a i n u n t i l i t b e c o m e s p e r m a n e n t . Q : Y o u c a n t w i l l t h a t ? L e s t e r : O h y e s b y w a n t i n g i t t h a t m u c h !T h e r e a s o n w h y i t s s o d i f f i c u l t t o w a n t i t t h a t m u c h i s t h a t w e h a v e b e e n w a n t i n g t h e i l l u s o r y w o r l d f o r s o l o n g t h a t w e d o n t l e t g o o f t h e i l l u s i o n v e r y e a s i l y . Even though intellectually we know the illusion causes the misery, through long-time habit of thinking t h a t t h e j o y i s i n t h e e x t e r n a l w o r l d , w e j u s t d o n t l e t g o o f i t e a s i l y . Q : T h a t s w h y p e o p l e s a y t r a v e l i n g i s a f o o l s p a r a d i s e . L e s t e r : Y e s , i t s c h a s i n g r a i n b o w s . T h e u l t i m a t e j o y i s c l o s e r t h a n f l e s h . H o wf a r d o y o u h a v e t o g o t o g e t i t t h a t w h i c h i s c l o s e r t h a n f l e s h ?I t s t h e I o f y o u . F i n d t h a t I a n d y o u v e g o t i t . S o the place to go is within. Q: Is isolating running away? L e s t e r : I t c o u l d b e . I f o n e i s i s o l a t i n g j u s t t o g e t a w a y f r o mt h e w o r l d , t h a t s e s c a p e . I f o n e i s i s o l a t i n g t o d i v e i n t o o n e s S e l f , t h a t i s n o t e s c a p e . Q: How do you know which one you are doing?
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Lester: By being honest with yourself. Q : T h e r e s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t b e i n g n e x t t o n a t u r e . Lester: The nice thing about nature is it gets one away from worldly restimulation. Q : T h a t s e s c a p i n g t h o u g h , i s n t i t ? L e s t e r : R i g h t , y o u g o o u t i n t o n a t u r e t o e n j o y n a t u r e ; w h a t y o u r e r e a l l y e n j o y i n g i s t h e f r e e d o m o b t a i n e d b y t h e d r o p p i n g a w a y f r o ma l l t h e u n h a p p y t h o u g h t s a n d p u l l s o f s o c i e t y . A n d t h a t s e s c a p e . Q : Y o u m e a n y o u c a n t e n j o y n a t u r e , a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e g o w i t h i n ? L e s t e r : N o , I d o n t m e a n t h a t . A l l j o y s s h o u l d b e b e i n g w h a t y o u a r e . We s h o u l d n e v e r e n j o y anything. In order to enjoy something we have to go into the illusion of separateness. The joy should be independent of things, independent of people. However, when one sees the Truth, one can choose to enjoy, and the closer one gets to Truth the more one is capable of enjoying. One becomes sensitized a n d e v e r y t h i n g b e c o m e s f a r m o r e i n t e n s e . B u t t h e r e s n o n e e d t o g o o u t a n d e n j o y n a t u r e b e c a u s e y o u r basic nature is joy. You are the ultimate joy. Looking for joy would be me looking for Lester. I am L e s t e r . I d o n t h a v e t o g o o u t t h e r e a n d l o o k f o r h i m . I f I a mj o y I d o n t h a v e t o l o o k f o r i t o u t t h e r e . T h e r e s n o n e e d t o g o o u t f o r j o y w h e n i t s i n s i d e y o u . Q : I t s s i m p l e r t o u n d e r s t a n d i t i n a n i s o l a t e d s p o t . L e s t e r : Y e s . E v e n i f y o u r e e s c a p i n g y o u l l r e a c h a p o i n t w h e r e y o u r t h o u g h t s w i l l g e t u n b e a r a b l e ; t h e n y o u l l b e f o r c e d t o g o w i t h i n . Q : Y o u r e h e l p i n g u s b y t h r o w i n g b a c k s o m e o f t h e t h i n g s w e r e s a y i n g , a n d g i v i n g o t h e r t h i n g s t o u s o n e n e e d s t h a t , d o e s n t o n e , i n o n e s s e a r c h ? Lester: Yes, it is an aid. The only thing anyone else can do for us is to point and support us in the d i r e c t i o n . A n d w h e n w e a r e p o i n t e d i n t h e w r o n g d i r e c t i o n , i t s v e r y g o o d t o h a v e s o m e o n e p o i n t u s i n the right direction. Mirroring your thoughts back to you, helps you see your wrong direction, so that you may change it. Q : H o wd o y o u k n o wi f y o u r e p o i n t e d i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n ? Lester: Intuitively, or by the results achieved. Unconsciously, everyone is seeking his infinite Self. We call it happiness. When we beat ourselves long enough and hard enough, we begin to open ourselves to the right direction. Then a Christ, a Yogananda, a Ramakrishna, a Budda comes into our experience. Becoming acquainted with these Great Ones is no accident. They point to the right direction. Let me conclude with the following: You are responsible for everything that you feel. They are your feelings; they are your thoughts. You turn them on; you think them, and no one else but you does it and you act as though you have no control! You turn a faucet that flows on your head and you say, O h , s o m e o n e i s g e t t i n g m e a l l w e t . I t s y o u w h o s t u r n i n g o n t h e f a u c e t a n d g e t t i n g y o u r s e l f w e t . S o , y o u r d i r e c t i o n s h o u l d b e t a k i n g f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r w h a t s h a p p e n i n g t o y o u . T h e n y o u l l s e e b y l o o k i n g i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f I a md o i n g t h i s , t h a t y o u a r e !T h e n , w h e n y o u s e e t h a t y o u r e t o r t u r i n g y o u r s e l f , y o u l l s a y , My g o s h , h o ws t u p i d c a n I b e ? A n d y o u l l s t o p . I n s t e a d o f t o r t u r i n g y o u r s e l f , y o u l l m a k e y o u r s e l f h a p p y . No one is an effect of the unconscious mind, the unconscious habits and tendencies, unless he c h o o s e s t o b e . Y o u a r e t h e c a u s e o v e r t h e u n c o n s c i o u s m i n d ; y o u s e t i t u p ; y o u r e c h o o s i n g t o f o l l o w i t . T h e d a y y o u d e c i d e n o t t o , t h a t d a y y o u r e t h r o u g h w i t h i t ! I t s s i m p l e . Wh e n y o u d o n t l o o k a t w h a t y o u a r e d o i n g , i t s a f o r e v e r p r o c e s s o f b e i n g m i s e r a b l e .
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Y o u t h i n k m i s e r a b l e t h o u g h t s a n d y o u f e e l m i s e r a b l e , a n d y o u d o n t t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h i n k i n g these thoughts. So what chance have you got for getting out of it? Once you take responsibility for y o u r t h o u g h t s , y o u v e g o t c o n t r o l . Y o u c a n t u r n t h e mo f f , c h a n g e t h e m , p u t i n g o o d t h o u g h t s , u n t i l y o u o v e r c o m e t h e b a d t h o u g h t s . T h e n y o u l l d r o p t h o u g h t s . Y o u l l s e e h o ws t u p i d i t i s t o t h i n k . A l l t h o u g h t s a r e t h i n g s o f l i m i t a t i o n a n d y o u r e h a p p i e s t w h e n t h e r e a r e a b s o l u t e l y n o t h o u g h t s . A n d w h e n t h e r e a r e a b s o l u t e l y n o t h o u g h t s y o u a r e i n t h e t o p s t a t e . S o w h a t s d i f f i c u l t a b o u t t h a t ? Q: The unconscious mind. L e s t e r : N o . I t i s y o u !I t s n o t t h e u n c o n s c i o u s m i n d . T h i s i s t h e p o i n t I v e b e e n t r y i n g t o g e t a c r o s s . I t s n o t t h e u n c o n s c i o u s m i n d . Y o u w o u l d l i k e t o m a k e i t t h e u n c o n s c i o u s m i n d . Y o u w o u l d l i k e t o m a k e i t o t h e r t h a n y o u . T h a t s w h y y o u w a n t t h e Ma s t e r s , o r y o u w a n t L e s t e r t o p a s s a w a n d o v e r y o u a n d d o i t f o r y o u , b u t y o u d o n t w a n t t o d o w h a t m a k e s y o u h a p p y . Y o u r e c h o o s i n g t o d o w h a t m a k e s y o u u n h a p p y . C a n y o u s e e t h i s ?I t s s o s i m p l e . Wh o s e t h o u g h t s d o y o u t h i n k t h e y a r e ? Wh y a l l t h e s e u n h a p p y t h o u g h t s ?T h e m o m e n t y o u c h o o s e n o t t o h a v e t h e m , y o u w o n t h a v e t h e m . Q : We l l l o o k t o y o u a n d w e l l l o o k t o u s . Lester: Look to you, look to you. Look to find out who and what you are. Only when you know who you are, will you know who I am. Only by discovering what you are will you understand what t h i s u n i v e r s e i s . U n t i l y o u u n d e r s t a n d w h a t y o u a r e , y o u c a n n o t s e e t h i s u n i v e r s e c l e a r l y . I t s a h a z y m i s t . Wh e n y o u d i s c o v e r w h o y o u a r e , y o u l l s e e t h a t t h i s w h o l e u n i v e r s e i s r i g h t w i t h i n y o u . L i k e t h e universe in a night dream is within you. You must take full responsibility. Otherwise you have no chance of ever getting out of the mess. If you attribute the cause to something other than you, not being true, you can never get out of the mess. S o t h e d a y y o u d e c i d e t o d o i t , t h a t s i t !B e c a u s e !T a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d h a v e y o u r Mastership! ***

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 T h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l a i d s i s a l i v i n g t e a c h e r w h o h a s r e a l i z e d . Lester Levenson
Session 17 GURUS AND MASTERS THE TEACHER A Master is a fully realized Being, someone who is awake and free and who knows that they know. A Guru (or Sat Guru) is a Master who has chosen to help others find their Freedom. God, Guru and Self are all one and the same. This becomes obvious when the illusion is gone and the Reality is known. There is no greater aid than to have the guidance of Master or Guru. To quote one of the greatest a c c e p t e d a u t h o r i t i e s o n Mo n i s mo f t h e E a s t , S w a m i S h a n k a r a , N o k n o w n c o m p a r i s o n e x i s t s i n t h e t h r e e w o r l d s ( p h y s i c a l , a s t r a l a n d c a u s a l ) f o r a t r u e G u r u . I f t h e p h i l o s o p h e r s s t o n e b e a s s u m e d a s t r u l y s u c h , i t c a n o n l y t u r n i r o n i n t o g o l d b u t n o t a n o t h e r p h i l o s o p h e r s s t o n e . T h e v e n e r a t e d T e a c h e r , on the other hand, creates equality with Himself in the disciple who takes refuge at His feet. The Guru, t h e r e f o r e , i s p e e r l e s s , n a y , t r a n s c e n d e n t a l ! A Guru may be in a physical body, or an astral or causal body. The finer the body-form, the more readily He gets around. Can everyone have a Guru in a physical body? No, because rare is the Guru who chooses the e x t r e m i s t o f l i m i t e d f o r m , t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y . T h e r e j u s t a r e n t e n o u g h o f t h e mt o g o a r o u n d . Can everyone have a Guru? Yes, if he will accept a Guru who has transcended the physical body. Having transcended the physical, the Guru can use His omnipresence and actually help everyone calling on Him. Can we sense a Guru who is not in a physical form? Yes, everyone can, to the degree of his acceptance. If we are up to it, He can appear and talk with us in a physical body. If our acceptance is less, He can appear in an astral body and talk with us. If we have less acceptance than this, He may appear in a vision. Least of all, we may feel Him as a presence. However, He may come to us and to our aid in any one of the foregoing manners. All we need to do is to demand it and then accept it when it comes.

IS A TEACHER NECESSARY? Is it necessary to have a Guru? Theoretically, no. Practically, yes! Our present era is one in which we are so sunk in the apparency and delusion, that superhuman means are needed. Should we have a Guru? Definitely yes. Can we find one? Definitely yes. When the pupil is ready, the Teacher appears! If you have not found your Guru, just expect and know that you have contacted Him and you cannot but experience Him! H o wc a n w e k n o wa r e a l G u r u o r Ma s t e r ?H o wc a n w e t e l l t h e d e g r e e o f o n e s r e a l i z a t i o n ?A fully-realized Being has an inner peace that cannot be disturbed. He is completely selfless and His every act is for others only. He is equal-minded toward all. He is desireless. He is fearless. He is Love that is all givingness. He expects nothing from anyone. His every moment is oneness with God. T o t h e d e g r e e t h a t o n e h a s a l l t h e a b o v e q u a l i t i e s , i s t h e d e g r e e o f o n e s r e a l i z a t i o n .
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Here are some other thoughts on Gurus and Masters for you to reflect on. As ususal, allow them. *** Getting a Guru we garner the greatest good and get our godly goal. *** A l t h o u g h w e d o n t s e e i t , t h e G r e a t O n e s w o r k m o r e a n d m o r e w i t h u s a s t h i n g s g e t w o r s e i n t h e w o r l d . D o n t l o s e y o u r h e a d . K e e p y o u r s e l f o p e n t o t h e ma n d y o u w i l l b e s a f e l y l e d t h r o u g h . *** On the stage of Earth a Realized One play-acts a character as a human and knows Himself as divine. He sees no contradiction between human and divine. He merely sees the world as in Him rather than external to Him. The unrealized one sees the world as external. *** It is hard to judge a Master by His behavior because He is free to be any way He wants to be. He c a n e v e n c h o o s e t o b e h u m a n . T h e t o p s t a t e d o e s n t e x c l u d e t h e l i m i t e d s t a t e s . I t t a k e s t h e mi n , t o o , without being touched by them. *** To the degree we have reservations about the Master or Teacher, to that degree we cut off His help. *** I f o n e s e g o f e e l s i t c a n d o m i n a t e t h e t e a c h e r , t h e t e a c h e r h a s n o c h a n c e o f h e l p i n g .

*** When the pupil is ready, the Teacher must necessarily appear. *** When a Master in this world looks around, He sees His body and He sees all bodies around Him, b u t H e k n o w s t h a t e v e r y b o d y i s H i s S e l f t h a t s t h e d i f f e r e n c e . H e s e e s e v e r y b o d y a s m u c h H i s body as His own. *** J u s t p o i n t o f v i e w t h a t s t h e o n l y d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a Ma s t e r a n d a n o n m a s t e r . ***

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For a fully-realized Being, His outer activity does not disturb or effect His consciousness. Likewise thoughts do not disturb His consciousness. *** I think the hard thing for disciples of a Master (in physical body) to see is that the Master is in the world and not of it, that His body is the least part of Him. *** You are always pointed in the Direction when you are with the Wise. *** You think a Master in a physical body is more effective because you are unable to see Him in His finer body and therefore think He is not with you. *** The greatest of all aids is a living Teacher who has realized. Why? Because, although we all potentially have infinite power, the more we realize, the more we can exert this power. When a living Teacher, who has realized something, is trying to convey that to another one, He puts all His power behind what He is saying to help the other one realize it. He sees the other one as a limitless being, gives him and inward lift, points and sets him up to receive that which is being said, and uses the power emanated to effect the realization. So, the greatest of all aids is a Teacher who has realized what He is saying. The next greatest aid w o u l d b e r e a d i n g H i s w o r d s . T h e r e s a d e f i n i t e i m p o r t t o H i s w r i t t e n w o r d s . T h a t s w h y I s a y t h a t w e should read only fully-realized Masters. Everything that They have in writing is intended and calculated to give the reader a realization. The written word carries the original import of the One who said it. *** As the behavior in life, the very best behavior is imitating that of a realized Being, because that is c o n d u c i v e t o g i v i n g y o u H i s r e a l i z a t i o n . Wh e n y o u r e a c t i n g i t o u t , i t p o i n t s y o u i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f s e e i n g t h a t w h i c h y o u r e a c t i n g o u t . *** Stay with your Master and be with your Master all the time by constant thought of Him and by constant reading of His words, as though He is talking directly to you. T h e Ma s t e r s a r e l i v i n g t o g i v e u s r e a l i z a t i o n . B u t i f y o u d o n t a c c e p t t h i s , T h e i r l o v e d o e s n o t a l l o w Them to impose Themselves on you. *** All the Masters are at every moment helping us to see who and what we are.

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*** A savior is a servant who serves. *** AMa s t e r s b e h a v i o r i s c o m p l e t e l y s e l f l e s s . T h e r e i s a t o t a l s e l f a b n e g a t i o n i n a Ma s t e r . *** A Master feels like a servant. *** A Master does not interfere with the lives and ways and wishes of others. *** Masters seldom give advice. They give principle. *** I t s n o t t h a t Ma s t e r s m i n d t h e w o r l d i t s t h a t t h e w o r l d m i n d s t h e mt h a t c a u s e s t h e mt o w i t h d r a w . *** T h e r e s n o r e a l i z e d T e a c h e r w h o w o u l d n t w a n t y o u t o l i s t e n t o a l l o t h e r Ma s t e r s . T h e y w a n t y o u t o l i s t e n t o a n y r e a l i z e d B e i n g , b e c a u s e T h e y a l l s e e T h e m s e l v e s a s t h e s a m e . B u t T h e y d o n t w a n t y o u t o listen to anyone less than a realized Being. *** All Masters are exactly the same Self with different names. *** Wh e n y o u c a n a c c e p t e v e r y Ma s t e r a s y o u r Ma s t e r , t h a t s g o o d . T h e n , w h e n y o u c a n a c c e p t e v e r y p e r s o n o n t h e s t r e e t a s a m a s t e r , y o u r e a l m o s t t h e r e . *** Every fully-realized Being that comes into the world, in order to come in, must assume some desire a n d k a r m a . I f y o u d o n t h a v e s o m e d e s i r e y o u c a n n o t s t a y . *** Masters will go through life with a weak or sick body, all the time maintaining their peace and equanimity. They welcome it because They use it as a constant reminder that They are not the body.
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*** F o r o n e w h o s i n a b o d y , i t s n i g h o n t o i m p o s s i b l e t o l o o k o n a Ma s t e r a s n o t a b o d y . *** Christ is against nothing. Love is all-accepting. *** Ma s t e r s n e v e r r e j e c t t h e y o n l y a c c e p t . *** AR e a l i z e d O n e d o e s n t e n j o y b l i s s , H e i s b l i s s . *** T h e G u r u h e l p s s e t t h e b a c k g r o u n d f o r r e a l i z a t i o n s t h e p e a c e . *** A Master is a help in that He points us in the right direction and reminds us of the direction when we want to be reminded. *** Reading Their words is association with the Sages. *** A fully-realized Being is inactive in his own consciousness. To others, He appears active. He looks at His Self and others look at His body. *** It takes a Master to understand the behavior of a Master. If you could understand His behavior, you would be like Him. *** Any time you get totally absorbed in any saying of a Master, you make contact with that Master. *** There are no limitations to a Master. He can be one body; He can be a thousand bodies. A Master can actually have a thousand bodies and talk through the thousand bodies at one time to a thousand people, a thousand different people. There are no limitations on a Master.
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*** Masters are a 100% correct! *** Masters, isolated, are doing far more good for the world than presidents and kings are. *** A Realized One, being unlimited, may or may not use the mind. *** Wh e n w e s t a r t o n t h e p a t h , w e s t a r t w i t h m u c h c o n f u s i o n . We d o n t r e c o g n i z e t h a t w h a t i s o u t t h e r e is only that which we have set up. The Teacher we look up to is in our consciousness and only there. However, though, when we look up to a Teacher, we humble our ego, our ego being the only thing that prevents us from seeing the Truth. Looking up to a Master puts our ego into the background and we take our direction from someone who knows. Now, the outside Master or Teacher will always point us inwardly to the Teacher of all teachers, our v e r y o w n S e l f . T h i s d o e s n t b e c o m e a p p a r e n t a t f i r s t . Wh e n w e a l l o wt h e T e a c h e r o u t t h e r e t o b e c o m e successful enough, He shows us that the Teacher has always been right within us, that the Teacher has a l w a y s b e e n o u r r e a l S e l f . S o t h a t , i n t h e e n d , t h e r e s o n l y o n e T e a c h e r , t h e T e a c h e r w i t h i n , y o u r S e l f . *** Wh e n y o u r e m o v i n g i n t h e D i r e c t i o n , e v e r y G u r u a n d Ma s t e r i s s u p p o r t i n g y o u , y e s , e v e r y o n e o f Them. *** If your mind is on a fully-realized Master, He works to pull you over. *** T h e p l a c e w h e r e s a i n t s a r e i s r i g h t w h e r e I a m . S o w h e n y o u f i n d o u t w h a t y o u a r e , y o u l l s e e t h e s a i n t s c o m e m a r c h i n g i n . *** Read the words of a Master. Better, imagine His saying them to you. Best, hear Him saying them to you as you read them! *** Truth is Truth and all Masters speak identically. It appears different because They tailor it to suit the hearer. ***
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The Teacher is only as effective as is His conviction that the other one is a Master. *** When you know your Self, you know everything. A Master knows far more about every field than the top world authority in that field. *** Wh e n a n i n d i v i d u a l b e c o m e s a Ma s t e r , H e o p e r a t e s b y i n t u i t i o n . H e d o e s n t n e e d t o t h i n k . *** Just one Master could help every single one of the nearly four billion people on this earth at one and the same time because Masters are unlimited and omnipresent. *** What is night to all humans is a day to the Realized. What is day to all humans is night to the R e a l i z e d . Wh a t t h e h u m a n s e e s t h e R e a l i z e d d o e s n t s e e . *** To the Realized One the world may be likened to a moving picture on a screen. He sees the changeless screen as the substratum of the action. The unrealized man takes the moving pictures to be real, and if he would investigate by grabbing hold of the moving pictures, he would discover the t r u t h t h a t i t i s j u s t a c h a n g e l e s s s c r e e n . G r a b h o l d o f y o u r S e l f a n d d i s c o v e r t h e c h a n g e l e s s substratum of the world! *** A Master sees nothing but the one Self which others chop up into millions of parts. *** Since Masters are Beingness They can never not be. But Their Beingness is other than what you attribute to Them. Beingness has no body or form. Beingness is unlimited. Form is limited to the form. *** A Master has equal-mindedness toward all beings (even animals and insects). *** When one is around a Guru, if one gets quiet and digs for Truth, whatever one is aiming for, he will get through the assist of the Guru. He gets it through the silent teachings, which are the very highest of all teachings. This can also be done from afar!
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*** I n t h e e n d t h e t e a c h i n g h a s t o b e i n s i l e n c e b e c a u s e i t s a n e x p e r i e n c i n g t h i n g ; i t s n o t a v e r b a l t h i n g . *** AMa s t e r s e e s u s a s H i m s e l f , a s H i s v e r y o w n S e l f . T h e r e a r e n o o t h e r s t o a Ma s t e r . T h e r e s j u s t one infinite Being. This helps us to see what He sees. *** You can meet the Masters in body when you can accept meeting Them just as much as you can accept meeting me. *** You cannot invoke a Master without His coming in. ***

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 Y o u r t h o u g h t f o r c e e i t h e r h e l p s o r h u r t s t h e w o r l d s s p i r i t u a l p r o g r e s s a n d i s c o n s e q u e n t l y h u r t i n g o r h e l p i n g y o u r s e l f . Lester Levenson
Session 18 HELPING OTHERS THE NATURAL WAY Real love, divine love, is a feeling of givingness with no expectation of receiving something for it in return. When we attain to this, we see and feel nothing but the most enthralling love everywhere and in everyone. We taste the sweetness of God and are effortlessly locked in harmony with Him. We are intoxicated with a joy that defies description. Loving God, loving All, loving everyone is the easiest and most natural way to attain full realization. It requires no giving up. It is an expansion of our inner feeling of love to encompass and embrace all, everyone, everything. Expand your love, for your family, for your friends, for those of your country, for those of the entire world. Expand it until there is no more room for expansion and then remain eternally intoxicated and one with God! Love is basically an attitude. To express this attitude, give from the bottom of your heart and discover that it is the giver who is most blest.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: Can you say more about the giving? L e s t e r : We r e m o v i n g t o w a r d a G o a l t h a t i s u n l i m i t e d . We m u s t b e c o m e t o t a l l y f r e e . We h a v e been moving in ups and downs; and our lives have become much better and happier. Yet there is a distance to go, right? T o d a t e , I w o u l d s a y t h a t y o u h a v e m a s t e r e d m a n y o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s a s a p p l i e d t o l i f e . Y o u v e l e a r n e d h o wt o l e t g o o f a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f l i m i t a t i o n ; y o u v e l e a r n e d t o a c c e p t t h e p o s i t i v e ; y o u v e l e a r n e d t o a c c e p t t h e p o w e r o f t h o u g h t ; y o u v e l e a r n e d t h a t y o u a r e t h e c r e a t o r i n y o u r l i f e ; a n d o f course, the thing that goes along with this is that you have increased your capacity to love. As we expand our consciousness, our love automatically increases. Likewise, as our love increases, so does our understanding and wisdom. And yet these things which we have so far gained are not all-satisfying. Even though life has b e c o m e h a p p i e r , i t s t i l l i s n t f u l l , c o m p l e t e . A n y o n e t a k e a n y i s s u e w i t h m e s o f a r ? Q: Not a hit. L e s t e r : A l l r i g h t , t h e p a t h w e r e o n i s f r o mh e r e o n u n t i l w e m a k e i t t o t h e g o a l t o t a l F r e e d o m . T h a t s t h e f i r s t p o i n t I d l i k e t o m a k e . S e c o n d , w e c a n d o t h i s i n t h i s l i f e t i m e !G e n e r a l l y i t t a k e s m a n y , many lifetimes for the great majority of those seeking to make it. However, we can do it this lifetime. First because we are ones who want this quickest, most direct way. Second, we have the right direction to make it this lifetime. So, if we ever come back to the earth in the future it will be by choice, not by necessity. Those of us who very much want to help others, might come back just to help o t h e r s . B u t t h a t s a m a t t e r o f i n d i v i d u a l c h o i c e . T h e m a i n t h i n g i s t o a c h i e v e t h e u l t i m a t e s t a t e .
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Now, becoming master over life is really a basic and necessary step through which we learn that rather than victims in life, we are the masters. Then after we master the ways of making our environment the way we want it, we look beyond. No matter how happy we make our life, so long as i t s i n v o l v e d o n l y i n e v e r y d a y l i v i n g i t s e l f , i t w i l l n e v e r f u l l y s a t i s f y u s b e c a u s e o u r r e a l n a t u r e i s t h a t of being infinite. Beyond this our direction in the future must become more universal. We will need to let go of our own livingness to the point where we can live outwardly more for others. For we must come to have the attitude that if we are universal beings, we must behave like universal beings. I u s e t h e w o r d a t t i t u d e . We c a n t h e l p p e o p l e m u c h b y g i v i n g t h e mt h i n g s ; t h e r e s j u s t t o o m u c h needed and we do not have it. But we can give them that which is much more than things. We can begin to give them the wisdom that we are getting. Our attitude should be one of desiring to help everyone who desires help. I want to stress this, for one of the important rules in this step from personal to universal love is n e v e r h e l p t h o s e w h o d o n t w a n t i t . T h i s w o u l d b e i m p o s i n g o n t h e m . We s h o u l d t r y t o h e l p j u s t t h o s e w h o c r o s s o u r p a t h a n d a s k u s . We d o n t h a v e t o e x t e n d o u r s e l v e s l o o k i n g f o r p e o p l e a s t h o s e w h o d e s i r e w h a t w e k n o ww i l l j u s t f a l l i n t o o u r e x p e r i e n c e . T h e y l l a s k u s q u e s t i o n s a n d a s w e g i v e t h e m the answers, they will feel that we are giving them the right answers, that we are helping them and they w i l l a s k f o r m o r e . A n d i t s r e a l l y o u r o b l i g a t i o n t o h e l p t h o s e w h o c o m e t o u s s i n c e r e l y s e e k i n g t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n . R e m e m b e r , Y o u a r e m e . The irony is that as we begin to live more expansively, thinking less of our little self and more of the other one, we really help ourselves. By helping others, we help ourselves toward the Goal. We will never make it unless we have an attitude of love and a feeling of compassion, of oneness with everyone, with a wish that they, too, know what we know. So to repeat, we have gotten to the point where we have learned how to better control life and make it happier. Now we must try to make it happier for others. This does not mean stopping our own g r o w t h ; t h a t w e n e v e r d o . We k e e p w o r k i n g f o r o u r o w n f u r t h e r g r o w t h b y h e l p i n g o t h e r s . A n y questions on that? Q : I f e e l t h a t I h a v e t o w o r k f o r a l i v i n g a n d I v e g o t t o p i l e u p s o m u c h m o n e y o r s o m a n y g o o d s , b u t i f I g i v e s o m e b o d y e l s e s o m e t h i n g , I w o n t h a v e e n o u g h . I s t h a t w r o n g ? Lester: Yes. We should feel that we could give away what we have and know that we will be fine. For what we will have left is not important and most essential. The world is in a state that many p e o p l e t h i n k a l l t h e y n e e d a r e t h i n g s . B u t i t i s n o t t h e t h i n g s t h e y n e e d . I t s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . O n e n e e d only. Look at the amount of wealth and the accompanying unhappiness which exists in our country today. Q: This seems to be a little different and very important. Do I understand that to give people things without giving them the power to be what they really want is not giving them anything. Lester: Yes. Things are small when compared to wisdom and understanding. Q : B u t I d o n t d e m o n s t r a t e t h i s . I h a v e c o m e t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e I h a v e a n e a s i e r l i f e , a h a p p i e r l i f e b u t c e r t a i n l y , a t t i m e s I s u r e f a l l o n m y f a c e . Lester: Most of us do, but why? Q: Because we think limited thoughts? Lester: Yes and because we are trying to be happy only in the business of everyday livingness. Q : S p e a k i n g f o r m y s e l f , I w o u l d h a v e t o s a y , Y e s . Wh e n a d e a l g o e s t h r o u g h I mh a p p i e r t h a n
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w h e n i t d o e s n t . Lester: Right. But try to not be the doer. Let go and let God. Be happy at making others happy. Q: I put my fingers in it and mess it up! L e s t e r : B u t y o u d o n t h a v e t o . Q: Just let go and let God? L e s t e r : Y e s , w h y d o n t y o u d o i t ?Wh y d o n t y o u l e t G o d ? Q: I would say habit is in my way. L e s t e r : I t s h a b i t , a l l r i g h t , b u t w h y a l l o wt h e h a b i t t o r u n y o u ? Y o u r e l i v i n g i n a w o r l d o f s e p a r a t i o n . Y o u a r e t h e r e a n d p e o p l e a n d d e a l s a r e o v e r h e r e . B u t w h e n you see the Oneness, when you begin to live for others; you see them as you. Q: But the others, that I see, come to me because they want things. I never had anybody come to m e a n d s a y , I w a n t p e a c e . L e s t e r : T h a t s y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s . B e g i n t o l i v e f o r o t h e r s a n d e x p e c t t o m e e t p e o p l e w h o w a n t p e a c e . L i v e i n a n d f o r o n e n e s s a n d p e a c e s e e k e r s w i l l c o m e i n t o y o u r e x p e r i e n c e . Q: You spoke of love and compassion. Could you define what they mean? Lester: Love is only understood when you love. Basically, it is the attitude of givingness with an understanding of and an identifying with others. Compassion is understanding what the others are experiencing without sharing their misery and with a wish to promote its alleviation. Q : L o v e s h o u l d b e w a n t i n g f o r o t h e r s t h e s a m e a s I w o u l d w a n t f o r m y s e l f w i t h o u t f e e l i n g I a m l i m i t e d . Lester: Yes. Let me summarize. Once life has become happier the next step is to live more outwardly, more expansively, live for others, or, live more for others. This, in another way, is seeing G o d e v e r y w h e r e a n d i n e v e r y o n e . F e e l t h a t e v e r y o n e i s y o u b e c a u s e t h e r e i s o n l y o n e B e i n g n e s s you. There is only God and God is All. Therefore, that which I am, my Beingness, is God! ***

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 Y o u r t h o u g h t f o r c e e i t h e r h e l p s o r h u r t s t h e w o r l d s s p i r i t u a l p r o g r e s s a n d i s c o n s e q u e n t l y h u r t i n g o r h e l p i n g y o u r s e l f . Lester Levenson
Session 19 MORE ON HELPING OTHERS O n e w h o i s n o t i n s o m e w a y h e l p i n g o t h e r s i s i n j u r i n g t h e m . T h i s s o m e w a y i s b a s i c a l l y a n d generally in thought. Any thought other than one of good will or good wishes toward anyone, is injuring others and therefore injuring oneself. The above is effected through the interconnection of all minds and by the fact that the law of compensation, i.e., karma, is effected in the thought, whether the thought is carried through into action or not. Here are some additional thoughts on helping others. *** Your helping others is more by your attitude of how much you love them, than by your behavior. *** When you love you are very constructive whether you are in action or not. Just feel love and your thoughts will be those of love. *** Thought is far more powerful than action. Thought is the basis of action. It is the initiator. It comes before it. It determines action. *** T h e d e g r e e o f l a c k o f r e c o g n i t i o n o f w o e s o f o t h e r s i s t h e d e g r e e o f o n e s e g o . T h e m o r e o n e k n o w s his Self, the more compassion and desire one has to help others. *** The more you are capable of loving, the more you are helping the world. *** All minds are interconnected, interactive and inter-react. The more an individual increases his love, the more everyone is helped. *** Y o u r t h o u g h t f o r c e e i t h e r h e l p s o r h u r t s t h e w o r l d s s p i r i t u a l p r o g r e s s a n d i s c o n s e q u e n t l y h u r t i n g o r
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helping yourself. *** H e w h o i s n o t h e l p i n g t h e w o r l d s u p l i f t m e n t i s h e l p i n g i t s d e g r a d a t i o n . *** The greatest good is done by the person who best understands himself. *** Everyone can be helped in every situation that involves more than one person, and no one has to be hurt when love determines. *** When you let someone know you are doing something for them, they are obligated and return a t h a n k y o u . Wh e n t h e y d o n t k n o wa n d d o n t r e t u r n , t h e n t h e I n f i n i t e r e t u r n s o v e r f l o w i n g ! *** When I give and you give back, you stop me from receiving a blessing from the Infinite. *** I t s h e l p f u l t o y o u t o h e l p o t h e r s , p r o v i d e d t h e r e s n o e g o m o t i v a t i o n b e h i n d i t a n d t h a t i t s d o n e without attachment. *** A high being sitting in a cave somewhere all by himself is doing much good for the world by his sending out powerful thoughts of love and peace. *** Charity is aiding and abetting the lie that God will take care of the sparrow but not man. *** C h a r i t y i s s a y i n g , Y o u c a n t h e l p y o u r s e l v e s . *** Charity is good and necessary for one who is at that level of givingness and havingness. *** The greatest thing we can do for others is to help them to help themselves.
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*** B l e s s e d i s t h e g i v e r b e c a u s e h e i s t h e h a p p i e r i f h e g i v e s f r o mh i s h e a r t . *** T o t h e d e g r e e y o u s t r a i g h t e n o u t y o u r s e l f y o u m a y h e l p o t h e r s . A g a i n I s a y , y o u r e n o t g o i n g t o h e l p others any more than you help yourself. But try to help others because that will help you help yourself. *** Y o u d o n t n e e d a n y s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g t o h e l p o t h e r s . Y o u d o i t n a t u r a l l y , f r o my o u r o w n s t a t e o f beingness. *** Everyone is a teacher teaching at his level. He does it unconsciously in his daily relationship with others. *** The greatest givingness is not in things. The greatest givingness is your attitude of love. *** Giving out money is like giving out snake protection (the snake and the rope concept). The greatest giving is giving the understanding that there is no snake to protect yourself from. *** H a v e a n a t t i t u d e o f g i v i n g n e s s . I t s n o t h o wm u c h y o u g i v e ; i t s y o u r a t t i t u d e . S o m e p e o p l e g i v e t o hospitals etc. to get their name-plates on them, and that is the extent of their reward. *** Whatever we do we should do with a desire to serve. *** Serve with the feeling that it is not you but the God in you who serves. *** T h e g i v e r s h o u l d s a y T h a n k Y o u a n d t h e r e c e i v e r s h o u l d s a y , Y o u a r e w e l c o m e . ( T h e g i v e r i s the more blest.) ***

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T h e l e s s e g o w e h a v e t h e m o r e w e k n o wt h e p e r f e c t i o n o f o t h e r s . A n d i t s t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t y o u k n o wt h e y r e p e r f e c t t h a t y o u s u p p o r t t h e mi n t h e i r b e i n g p e r f e c t . *** A completely giving person always has whatever he wants. *** We help mostly by raising our own state of being. *** The higher you go the more you lift everyone. *** Wh e n y o u r e h o l d i n g g o o d t h o u g h t s , y o u r e s e n d i n g o u t g o o d t h o u g h t s t o e v e r y o n e . *** Wh e n y o u r e h e l p i n g o t h e r s , w h e r e s y o u r a t t e n t i o n ? *** Selflessness is an excellent yardstick to measure the state of beingness of an individual. *** G i v i n g n e s s i s a l s o a g o o d y a r d s t i c k . O n e s s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o o n e s f e e l i n g o f g i v i n g n e s s , o n e s w a n t i n g t o g i v e . *** Does a Master ask things from the devotees, the disciples? A Master is all-givingness. *** Our feeling of givingness should be equal toward everyone. Giving to someone who likes you is ego motivated. A Master has equal-mindedness toward all. *** Anyone who has spiritual pride is only giving out words, and the other one picks it up as words with no import or authority. ***

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To help another one you have to equate him to you, i.e., not think you are spiritually higher. *** When one understands, one sees everyone equally a master. *** If everyone lived only for others that would right the world. It would make it a utopia! *** Wh e n w e l i v e o n l y f o r o t h e r s , t h e n w e r e a t t h e t o p . *** Any and every relationship should be for the purpose of helping the other one attain Realization, or for your being helped in attaining Realization. *** Service to mankind will get you full realization if you do it with no interest in the fruits thereof. ***

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 We c a n t h a v e a s i c k b o d y w i t h o u t h o l d i n g ( c o n s c i o u s l y o r u n c o n s c i o u s l y ) a m e n t a l p i c t u r e o f s i c k n e s s . I t s i m p o s s i b l e t o h o l d a n y t h i n g i n t h e b o d y t h a t s n o t i n t h e m i n d . Lester Levenson
Session 20 HEALING I often work with doctors and I find that a doctor, who is already trained in the field of healing, becomes a better doctor when he seeks a deeper understanding of life, when he finds more of the basic causes behind life in a body. I n s o m e w a y s w h a t I o f t e n s a y t o d o c t o r s i s , G o s h , y o u r e i n a s i c k b u s i n e s s ! A n d s e e i n g t h i s sickness is unhealthy for you unless you, in your mind, reverse all this sickness that you apparently see.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q : We l l , t h a t h a p p e n s t o b e o n e q u e s t i o n I h a d f o r y o u . I d o n t k n o wh o wy o u k n e wt h a t . L e s t e r : I w a s n t c o n s c i o u s o f t h a t . Wh e n I l e t g o a n d l e t G o d , t h e q u e s t i o n s i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e listeners usually get answered. Q: I feel this very strongly. How do I reverse it? Lester: You see, the mind is only creative, and it creates the pictures we hold in mind. Having a p i c t u r e o f s i c k n e s s , w e t e n d t o c r e a t e s i c k n e s s u n l e s s , a s w e s e e i t , w e m e n t a l l y r e v e r s e w h a t w e a r e seeing. Q : Wo u l d y o u d e f i n e w h a t y o u m e a n b y r e v e r s e ?I h a d a p a t i e n t t o d a y , f o r e x a m p l e . I d l i k e t o r e v e r s e t h e w h o l e i n c i d e n t , o r I d l i k e t o s e e n o n e o f t h e i m p e r f e c t i o n , s e e o n l y t h e p e r f e c t i o n o f G o d . But when I looked at the patient today, it was very difficult for me to see any perfection. L e s t e r : Y o u r e i n a m o s t d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n . I t s e a s y f o r m e b e c a u s e I h a v e b e e n d o i n g i t f o r 1 6 y e a r s . Wh e n p e o p l e s a y , O h , t h i s i s b a d , a n d t h i s h u r t s , a n d t h e d o c t o r s a i d t h a t . . . I h a r d l y h e a r i t . I become aware that what they are telling me about is imperfection. I see that they are trying to convince me of what is in actuality an illusion. So I look at them and I know the perfect Being that they really are and I immediately reverse the apparent imperfection by seeing their perfection. The Truth of our Beingness is absolute perfection. The more you experience the truth of Perfection, the more you will know it, the more you will see what they say as an apparency, and the more able you w i l l b e t o r e v e r s e i t . B u t i t s g o i n g t o t a k e a k n o w i n g n e s s o f t h e T r u t h b e h i n d t h i s w o r l d . T h a t T r u t h i s its beingness, its existence (which is the source of its apparency). Q: Well, you say exactly what I read but I have not had the experience of it. Lester: Because you are so much with the apparency, it makes it extremely difficult to see the absolute Perfection that actually is, here and now. I f y o u v e r e a d G o l d s m i t h , I g u e s s t h a t w h a t I ms a y i n g i s v e r y f a m i l i a r t o y o u . H o w e v e r , y o u m u s t discover the real You in order to discover the apparency of the world. Q: Yes.
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L e s t e r : L e t s t a k e t h e s n a k e a n d t h e r o p e i d e a . H a v e y o u h e a r d t h a t ?We s e e a r o p e o n t h e r o a d a t d u s k ; w e t h i n k i t s a s n a k e . T h e m o m e n t w e t h i n k i t s a s n a k e , w e r e v e r y i n v o l v e d i n f e a r a n d w a n t p r o t e c t i o n f r o mt h i s s n a k e . T h e r e s q u i t e a n i n v o l v e m e n t s o l o n g a s w e t h i n k i t s a s n a k e . N o wt h e reality is the rope is an illusion. It can be compared to the way most people see the world. So long as we keep looking at the illusion of the world we do not see the reality of it. It requires getting quiet e n o u g h w i t h o n e s e l f t o s e e t h e R e a l i t y , t h e b a s i c R e a l i t y b e i n g I A mT h a t I A m . We a r e t h a t i n f i n i t e Beingness of the world. And what is required is quieting the mind enough so that this infinite Beingness that we are is self-obvious. When you discover that you are a perfect Being, then you will know it. When you see your real Self, then you see that the Perfection that you are is omnipresent. And this Perfection is the rope, wrongly seen as the snake. So what is necessary is to stick to this path, meditate, release, dive within, d i g w i t h i n u n t i l y o u s e e t h e R e a l i t y o f y o u . Wh e n y o u s e e t h e R e a l i t y o f y o u , y o u l l s e e t h e R e a l i t y a n d perfection of the World. And although it now looks like many bodies and much separation, when you s e e t h e T r u t h , y o u l l s e e a n a b s o l u t e O n e n e s s w h e r e v e r y o u l o o k . Y o u l l s e e n o t h i n g b u t y o u w h e r e v e r y o u l o o k . Y o u l l s e e t h a t t h i s w h o l e w o r l d i s i n y o u r m i n d . Y o u l l s e e i t s y o u r u n i v e r s e . Y o u c r e a t e d it just as you create a world and people in your night dream-world. S o , t o s u mi t u p , y o u r e i n a v e r y d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n b e c a u s e o f y o u r p r o f e s s i o n , b u t t h a t d o e s n t m a k e i t i m p o s s i b l e . I f y o u r w i s h t o d i s c o v e r t h a t T r u t h i s s t r o n g e n o u g h , y o u l l s e e i t . Q : S o w h e n y o u s e e i t a n d t h a t s o c a l l e d i l l p a t i e n t c o m e s t o y o u , y o u d o n t s e e t h a t a t a l l ; y o u j u s t see Perfection? Lester: Yes. By your knowing that he is perfect, you help him drop the image of illness that he h o l d s i n h i s m i n d . I f p e o p l e c o m e t o m e a n d t e l l m e o f b o d y a i l m e n t s , I d o n t s e e t h e a i l m e n t s ; I d o n t h e a r t h e a i l m e n t s . A s t h e y r e t e l l i n g i t t o m e I mm e n t a l l y s a y i n g , Y o u a r e p e r f e c t . Y o u c a n d o t h i s as well. Q : A n d y o u r e s p e a k i n g o f t h e p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e s p i r i t ? L e s t e r : I ms p e a k i n g o f t h e p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n w h o I mt a l k i n g t o . As i c k b o d y i s a n i l l u s i o n . The perfection of the person is real. Q: You mean the twisted... L e s t e r : T h e d i s t o r t e d b o d y i s a n i l l u s i o n . B u t u n t i l w e s e e i t , i t d o e s n t s e e mt h a t w a y . T a k e a mirage on a desert where we see water in the distance. If we never check it, it always seems to be water to us. If we go over to the spot and discover it is sand, from that point on we know that the water is a mirage. The next time we see the mirage, we still see the water, but with this great difference: we know the water to be an illusion. Until we discover the reality of the body and the world, we are accepting an illusion as being real. Discover the real you, your Beingness, and then you can know the reality of the body and world. Q: In dealing with a patient, if I see the Perfection, that helps me. By seeing the Perfection, am I helping the patient? Lester: To the degree that we know the Perfection of the other person, we support the other person in knowing his Perfection. The degree that he accepts it, is the degree of his healing. When these faith h e a l i n g s o r i n s t a n t a n e o u s h e a l i n g s h a p p e n , i t s b e c a u s e t h e o n e w h o h a d a p p a r e n c y o f t h e s i c k n e s s w i t h i n h i ms e e s t h e p e r f e c t i o n , a n d t h e r e s a n i n s t a n t a n e o u s h e a l i n g . I c a n t h a v e a s i c k b o d y w i t h o u t h a v i n g a m e n t a l p i c t u r e o f s i c k n e s s . I t s i m p o s s i b l e t o h o l d a n y t h i n g i n t h e b o d y t h a t s n o t i n t h e m i n d . T h e b o d y i s c o m p o s e d o f c a r b o h y d r a t e s , m i n e r a l s , e t c . I t is only matter. It has no intelligence. We are the intelligence; we image and hold the life of the body.
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I t s i m p o s s i b l e t o b e s i c k w i t h o u t h o l d i n g t h a t s i c k p i c t u r e i n o u r m i n d s o f c o u r s e , u n c o n s c i o u s l y . I f i t w e r e c o n s c i o u s , w e w o u l d c o r r e c t i t i m m e d i a t e l y . B e i n g u n c o n s c i o u s , i t s d i f f i c u l t , b e c a u s e w e a r e not looking at it. H a v e y o u s e e n s p i r i t u a l h e a l i n g s ?H a v e y o u s e e n s o c a l l e d m i r a c l e s ? Q: Yes. L e s t e r : We l l , t h e n y o u k n o wi t i s p o s s i b l e . I t s d o n e s i m p l y b y t h e i n d i v i d u a l , Wh o s r u n n i n g t h e b o d y , m e n t a l l y c h a n g i n g t h i n g s , t h a t s a l l . T h e i n s t a n t w e c h a n g e t h e m i n d p i c t u r e , t h e b o d y c h a n g e s . B u t a g a i n , b e c a u s e t h e s i c k p i c t u r e i s m o s t o f t e n u n c o n s c i o u s , i t s o f t e n d i f f i c u l t . Q: How can we become aware of our unconsciousness and make it conscious, and secondly, how can we help the mind visualize more perfectly what we wish if we do not know Perfection ourselves? Lester: To become aware of our subconscious we must engage ourselves in the practice of honest introspection which we call Releasing. The more we turn our attention within, the more we become aware of our subconscious thoughts and programs. When we become aware of any subconscious thoughts, we are able to let them go and the more we let them go or release them, the more conscious we become. In short we get to know the Perfection by looking in the direction where the Perfection is. And P e r f e c t i o n i s i n h e r e w h e r e w e a r e , w h e r e t h e I o f u s i s . S o , f i r s t , w e h a v e t o d i r e c t o u r a t t e n t i o n i n w a r d l y ; w e h a v e t o p o s e t h e q u e s t i o n , Wh a t a mI ? u n t i l t h e a n s w e r c o m e s . Wh e n t h e a n s w e r c o m e s , w e k n o w . A n d t o g e t t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI ? i t s n e c e s s a r y t o s t i l l t h e t h o u g h t s , f o r thoughts are a kind of noise which blankets the Truth. The thoughts are also concepts of limitation and there are many of them which are constantly bombarding us. Q: Yes, I know. When I sit quietly I have this experience of the noise but how can I make the mind quiet? Lester: Intense and persistent desire to discover what you are. When your interest in knowing what you are becomes stronger than your interest in this world and in the body, then your thoughts of the world and body are quieted and you discover that you are not the mind. You discover that the mind is an instrument you set up and this instrument is other than you. At that point you are in control of your mind. So, intense and persistent desire is the key. Q : T h e r e a s o n I a s k e d t h i s i s b e c a u s e I v e c o m e t o a p o i n t i n m y l i f e w h e r e I v e m a d e i t r e a l t h a t n o t h i n g t h a t h a p p e n s b a d o r g o o d i s o u t s i d e m y s e l f . I n o t h e r w o r d s , I k n o wt h a t I c r e a t e d t h i s . I m r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m y l i f e . I mc r e a t i n g m y l i f e f r o mm o m e n t t o m o m e n t . N o wI v e c o m e t o t h i s . I a c c e p t i t . I t a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , b u t I ms t u c k . I v e s e e n t h i s b u t n o wI w a n t t o g o b e y o n d t h i s . I want to break the barrier, do you understand? Lester: Yes, you want to go further. Taking full responsibility is an excellent means of growing because you will get to see your mastership; you will get to see that whatever is happening to you, you created. Q: Yes, I see that. Lester: All right, you first become master over matter, and body is part of matter, then you become m a s t e r o v e r m i n d n o wt h i s i s t h e p a r t y o u w a n t . Q: Right. Lester: When we are master over mind, then we are a full Master. So you continue until you gain t h a t m a s t e r s h i p . I n t h e E a s t e r n t e a c h i n g s t h e y c a l l t h i s t a p a s , o r d i s c i p l i n e . Ma s t e r i n g t h e m i n d i s
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consciously changing your likes and your dislikes; walking out into the cold and not minding it; walking into a high temperature and humidity and feeling comfortable; having pain in the body and not being bothered by it. Q : T h a t s c o n s c i o u s s u f f e r i n g ? L e s t e r : N o , y o u d o n t h a v e t o s u f f e r w h e n y o u d o t h i s . Wh e n y o u k n o wy o u r e n o t t h e b o d y a n d t h e b o d y p a i n s , y o u k n o wt h e b o d y i s i n p a i n , b u t i t j u s t d o e s n t b o t h e r y o u . Wh e n s o m e o n e e l s e s body hurts, you do not feel it because you do not identify with it. If you would identify with that other body, you would feel the pain of it. Q : Y e s , I v e g l i m p s e d t h a t . I h a d t r e m e n d o u s d i s o r d e r t h i s p a s t w e e k ; I m i s p l a c e d a f e wt h i n g s , a n d I went through such a mess and I was observing myself constantly, but behind everything there was s o m e t h i n g t h a t w a s a l w a y s y o u k n o wO . K . L e s t e r : A l w a y s O . K . Y e s . T h e r e s a w e l l b e i n g n e s s b e h i n d e v e r y t h i n g . Q: Right, now the question is how do I get to it and hold it? Lester: By continuing to do it, you develop it more and more until someday it remains permanently. Y o u l l h a v e c o m p l e t e m a s t e r y o v e r t h e m i n d , a n d t h e n y o u r e a Ma s t e r . Are you your mind? Q: Am I my mind? My answer to that is partly intellectual and partly emotional. When I am most aware I think that no, I am not my mind, but I am the life behind it. Lester: Yes, that is the right attitude to take. The mind is a composite of thoughts. Who thinks the thoughts? You do. So it must be that you are other than the thoughts if you are thinking the thoughts. C o n t i n u e w h a t y o u r e d o i n g ; c o n t i n u e w o r k i n g t o m a s t e r t h e m i n d . T h e m o r e y o u d o i t , t h e m o r e y o u will see that you are not the mind, the more you will see what you really are. Y o u v e g o t a w o n d e r f u l m e t h o d . T a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , t h e n w o r k t o m a s t e r t h e m i n d . I f y o u c a n h a v e p a i n i n t h e b o d y a n d s a y , I a mn o t t h e b o d y , t h e n p a i n g e t s t o b e d u l l . Wh a t y o u a r e a c t u a l l y d o i n g i s m o v i n g o u t o f t h a t b o d y . Y o u r e m o v i n g y o u r c e n t e r o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s o u t o f t h e b o d y . Mo s t of us put our center of consciousness right within the body and so we remain imprisoned by it. But it is possible to operate the body from outside the body and this is what we should do. We should see the body as being other than we. Then, as a puppet, move it around. Practice will get you to the full knowingness that the body and mind are external to you and are at your command. A n d w h e n y o u s e e t h i s c l e a r l y e n o u g h y o u l l t h r o wt h e m i n d o u t a n d y o u l l w o r k i n t h e r e a l mo f o m n i s c i e n c e , w h i c h i s j u s t b e h i n d t h e m i n d . I n f a c t y o u w o n t n e e d t o t h i n k a n y m o r e . E v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e k n o w n a n d p e r f e c t l y i n t u n e . E v e r y a c t i o n w i l l b e a r i g h t a c t i o n b e c a u s e y o u l l b e i n i t i a t i n g i t f r o m omniscience, which is perfect. The mind is imperfect because it takes tiny bits of omniscience and lets them filter through it. Am I answering your question? Q: Yes you are. I guess the thing that has stopped me so far is my desire to experience some of the psychic phenomena that supposedly come with development. In my studying and reading I became i n t e r e s t e d i n a s t r a l p r o j e c t i o n , o r t h e a b i l i t y t o s e e t h e a u r a , a n d b e c a u s e I w a s a d o u b t i n g T h o m a s , I v e been looking for some sign and although something in me has grown and needs no proof, still I would love to experience just one of these things. Lester: Getting interested in psychic powers is a wrong approach. Being interested in the powers, one might develop the powers. Using the powers without having your understanding of them, you will m i s u s e t h e m . Y o u c a n u s e t h e mt o o s e l f i s h l y a n d t h e y l l t u r n a r o u n d a n d h u r t y o u , c a u s i n g y o u t o l o s e
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the powers. This happens to all psychic people who develop beyond their level of understanding. So I suggest that you develop your understanding until all the powers naturally open up to you, and then if y o u c h o o s e t o u s e t h e m , y o u l l u s e t h e mr i g h t l y a n d y o u w o n t b e t h e r e f o r e , h u r t . S o m e d a y , w e l l g o b a c k t o r e c o g n i z i n g t h a t w e a r e a l l p o w e r f u l , t h a t a l l t h e p o w e r s a r e o u r s , a n d t h e y h a p p e n w i t h n o e f f o r t . Wh e n y o u t r y t o d e v e l o p t h e s e p o w e r s i t s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t b e c a u s e y o u need to use effort, right? Q: Right. Lester: The state in which all powers exist is the effortless state. Whereas the ego with its concept of limitation, requires effort. In omniscience, omnipotence no effort is needed. If we are the all-powerful Self, then no effort is needed. This is also true in the idea of letting go and letting God. When we l e t g o o f o u r l i t t l e e g o s e l f , t h e n w e c a n l e t a n y m i r a c l e b e , a n d i t i s i n s t a n t l y e f f e c t e d w i t h o u t e f f o r t by just letting go and letting it be. Does that make sense? Q: Yes, very much so. L e s t e r : S o d e v e l o p i n g p o w e r s i s n t s o m e t h i n g w e s h o u l d s t r i v e f o r . A n d w h e n t h e y d o c o m e w e should be interested in whether am I doing a wrong thing by using my desire? If you do that, it works, d o e s n t i t ? Q: It does work. So I am not imposing my will on anyone when I do that? Lester: No, not when you let go and let God. Q : I d o n t w a n t t o i m p o s e m y d e s i r e s o n t h e s e p e o p l e . L e s t e r : Y o u a r e n o t i m p o s i n g y o u r w i l l w h e n y o u l e t g o a n d l e t G o d . I f y o u c a n d o t h a t , y o u r e a great, great doctor. Q: How do I find out if I am doing that? L e s t e r : Y o u k n o wb y e x p e r i e n c e . T h a t m a n c o u l d s u r v i v e e v e n i f h e l o s t a l l h i s b l o o d i f y o u l e t God take care of it. Everything is possible to God. Q : I d o n t k n o wh o wt o p r a y . I d o n t k n o wh o wt o s a y t h e p r a y e r f o r t h i s p a t i e n t ! L e s t e r : Y e s y o u d o , y o u r p r a y e r I s , Wh a t e v e r i s b e s t f o r h i ms h o u l d b e . T h e p r a y e r i s t h e r e a l l t h e t i m e ; y o u d o n t h a v e t o v o i c e i t . Q : T h a t s w h a t I v e s a i d b u t h a v e n t k n o w n i f i t w a s s u f f i c i e n t . L e s t e r : I t i s s u f f i c i e n t . T h e p r a y e r i s t h e r e w h e t h e r y o u v o i c e i t o r n o t . H e s a l i v e , i s n t h e ? Q: Yes. L e s t e r : Wh e n a p e r s o n d e c i d e s t o d i e , n o o n e i s g o i n g t o k e e p h i ma l i v e . We c a n t k e e p a n y o n e h e r e w h o h a s r e a l l y d e c i d e d t o l e a v e . A n d y o u v e s e e n t h e o p p o s i t e w h e r e t h e b o d y h a s h a d v e r y l i t t l e c h a n c e o f s u r v i v i n g y e t t h e p e r s o n l i v e d . S e e , i t s t h e i n d i v i d u a l w h o s r u n n i n g t h e b o d y w h o r e a l l y makes the decision. We can only guide and support that. Q: Is there a subconscious desire to leave? L e s t e r : Y e s . O f t e n w e a l l h a v e p r e s e t t h e t i m e w h e n w e r e g o i n g t o l e a v e . Q : O h , w e v e a l r e a d y p r e s e t i t !C a n w e c h a n g e t h a t p r e s e t t i n g ? Lester: No, but you can transcend it. When you transcend it, you do not die. You consciously and
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by choice leave the body in a manner that you choose. Y o u c a n t c h a n g e t h e k a r m a o f t h e b o d y . T h a t s a l a ww e s e t u p a n d i t g o e s o n a n d o n . I n t r y i n g t o work out karma, we are creating karma. The only thing we can do is rise above it. When we get above i t , i f w e w a n t a b o d y , w e c a n m a k e a h u n d r e d b o d i e s . B u t w h e n y o u g e t a b o v e i t , y o u r e n o t t h a t foolish to limit yourself into a little physical body. The most extreme limitation that you can impose u p o n y o u r s e l f i s t h e s t a t e w e c a l l p h y s i c a l . A n d w h e n y o u g e t a b o v e i t , t h e r e s n o n e e d f o r i t . Y o u v e h a d y o u r l e s s o n . I f y o u w a n t a b o d y , y o u l l u s e a n a s t r a l b o d y w h i c h m o v e s a r o u n d i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y and if it is damaged, you will instantly straighten it out. Wh e n y o u g e t a b o v e t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y , u n l e s s t h e r e s a r e a s o n , a n d t h e r e c o u l d b e , f o r y o u t o m a i n t a i n o n e , y o u w o n t m a i n t a i n a p h y s i c a l b o d y . S o , t o a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n , y o u c a n t c h a n g e a preset course. But you can get above it where the body becomes like a puppet to you. Everything in the physical is cause and effect, action and reaction, and this is called karma, the law of compensation. When we know this it makes life easy because we do not fight it. Now this can help y o u i n y o u r p r o f e s s i o n . E v e r y t h i n g i s g o i n g t o b e e x a c t l y a s i t h a s b e e n p r e d e t e r m i n e d b y u s . We c a n t change anything in this life. We can just change our attitude toward it. However, there is a free choice. It is to identify with this physical body or to identify with our real S e l f ; t h a t s t h e f r e e c h o i c e . Wh e n y o u i d e n t i f y w i t h y o u r r e a l S e l f , e v e r y t h i n g i s p e r f e c t . Wh e n y o u identify with the body, you necessarily subject yourself to untold body misery. Worldly life n e c e s s i t a t e s p o u n d s o f m i s e r y f o r e v e r y o u n c e o f p l e a s u r e . B u t w e r e s o s t e e p e d i n t h e m i s e r y w e d o n t k n o wr e a l l y h o wm u c h m i s e r y w e r e i n . We r e a c h a t o l e r a n c e p o i n t a t w h i c h w e c a n t o l e r a t e v e r y much. I guess you know that from your experience. So the thing to do is to properly identify with the infinite Beingness that you are. Try to accept the physical state as an illusion until you actually see it that way. When you see it that way, you see it as a g a m e , a n d y o u p l a y t h a t g a m e k n o w i n g t h a t i t s o n l y a g a m e . Now all these things cannot be done intellectually; you have to experience this knowledge. If you a c c e p t a n y t h i n g I s a y j u s t b e c a u s e I s a y i t , y o u r e j u s t h a r m i n g y o u r s e l f ; y o u r e w o r k i n g o n h e a r s a y . You must experience this yourself; you must prove it out yourself. Then it becomes your knowledge and is useable. The only thing I can do is to point out the direction, the way, to get this knowledge. Q : O t h e r t h a n w h a t y o u v e t o l d u s t o n i g h t , h o wc a n y o u h e a l y o u r s e l f e x c e p t w i t h r e a l i z a t i o n ? L e s t e r : T o r e l a t e t h i n g s r e l a t i v e l y , i f a p e r s o n c a n s p i r i t u a l l y h e a l h i m s e l f , h e s h o u l d ; i t s i n s t a n t a n e o u s . I f h e c a n t , h e s h o u l d d o i t m e n t a l l y ; i t s g o e s f r o mi n s t a n t a n e o u s t o q u i c k . I f h e c a n t do it mentally, he must do it physically; he must go to a doctor. So we use that which is available to u s . I s u g g e s t t o p e o p l e t h a t t h e y s e e a d o c t o r b e c a u s e t h a t s t h e l e v e l o f h e a l i n g t h a t t h e y n e e d a n d i t w i l l h e l p t h e m . D o c t o r s a r e n e c e s s a r y , a s n e c e s s a r y a s t h e y a r e t o d a y . Y o u w o u l d n t h a v e t h i s l a r g e m e d i c a l f i e l d i f i t w e r e n t n e c e s s a r y t o h e l p t h o s e w h o mt h e f i e l d i s h e l p i n g . Q : I v e r e a d i n s o m a n y w r i t i n g s t h a t t h e s t a t e o f c e l i b a c y i s n e c e s s a r y f o r r e a l i z a t i o n . I s t h i s t r u e ? Lester: This thing we call happiness is merely the infinite Beingness that we are experiencing to more or less of a degree. The real Self brings infinite joy. And if we would take it only directly from w h e r e i t i s , t h a t s a l l w e w o u l d h a v e . B u t w e m i s e r l y t a k e i t i n t i n y a m o u n t s t h r o u g h e x t e r n a l m e a n s b y assuming that we need something; we are not whole; we are not complete; we need something out there to make ourselves complete; and we create a want, a lack, which, when we fulfill it, the thoughts for it drop away, and when our thoughts drop away we remain at that moment more in our real Self. A n d t h a t s w h a t i s c a l l e d h a p p i n e s s , j o y . S o , a n y t i m e w e a r e s e e k i n g j o y i n t h e w o r l d w e a r e f o o l i n g o u r s e l v e s i n t o t h i n k i n g i t s o u t t h e r e , creating a need for it, satisfying it and feeling a bit of pleasure, which is only a relief from the agony of a desire. But we are trapping ourselves if we think that the thing out there gave it to us. What we did
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was to still the thoughts for it, create enough mental quietude to allow the Self to be a little more, and t h a t s w h a t h a p p i n e s s i s . N o ww e h a v e t o g i v e u p a l l t h a t s e e k i n g f o r j o y e x t e r n a l l y . S o i t i s n o t o n l y sex, but it is everything out there that we credit with giving us happiness. Point one. Point two. Giving it up and intensely wanting it can be as mentally disturbing as having it. What we have to do is let go of the desire for it, which seems impossible for most of us. So the best thing to do is, rather than fight it, be moderate and keep digging for the Truth until someday we get the understanding of what that joy was that we were having in sex. And then we see that we are always in a s t a t e o f j o y t h a t s h i g h e r t h a n a n y t h i n g t h a t s e x e v e r g a v e u s a n d i t s n o p r o b l e mt o l e t g o o f i t . T h e n , i f y o u t r y t o e n j o y t h r o u g h s e x , i n s t e a d o f i t g i v i n g y o u j o y , i t t a k e s a b i t o f i t a w a y , b e c a u s e y o u r e limiting it through the sex act. Be moderate as much as you can; stay away from it when you can, and a s y o u g e t y o u r r e a l i z a t i o n s y o u l l g e t t o a p l a c e w h e r e y o u l l l e t t h e w h o l e t h i n g g o b e c a u s e y o u v e g o t the joy all the time that you were trying to get through sex. Now the pleasure we get from sex is merely being more aware of our Self by the stilling of the thoughts. There are more suppressed desires and thoughts over the many lifetimes on sex than any other thing in life, so that when we satisfy ourselves sexually, we still the greatest number of subconscious thoughts. Q: You mean we have brought thoughts into this life from past lives too? And we have to quiet all of them? Lester: Eventually you get to the place where you can drop the whole remainder of the mind. T o s u mi t u p , c e l i b a c y d o e s n o t g i v e r e a l i z a t i o n . H o w e v e r , y o u w o n t g e t r e a l i z a t i o n w i t h o u t i t , n o r will you get it without the dropping of all desire. But as you grow it gets easier and you reach a point w h e r e i t s v e r y e a s y t o l e t g o o f s e x a n d o f o t h e r d e s i r e s . Y o u s e e i t s s i l l y t o t e l l s o m e o n e t o l e t g o o f s e x w h o s s o i n v o l v e d i n i t . P e o p l e h a v e t o b e l i f t e d t o the point where they are able to let go of it. I g u e s s t h e r e s a n o t h e r r e a s o n w h y p e o p l e a r e d o w n o n s e x . O r i g i n a l l y w e c r e a t e d b o d i e s m e n t a l l y . In the Garden of Eden we decided to do it the way the animals were doing it. And we got caught up in t h a t . A n d i t s a m e s s . We a r e n o wo n t h e w a y u p . We l l r e a c h a s t a t e w h e r e a g a i n w e l l l e t g o o f t h e a n i m a l w a y o f procreation and two physical beings will get together with one astral being and create a third physical b o d y i n t o a f a m i l y . A n d w h e n w e d o i t t h a t w a y w e d o n t l o s e o u r m e m o r y o f t h e p a s t . A n d s o m e d a y w e l l r e t u r n t o t h a t , h e r e o n e a r t h . And so, a desire for sex runs us down lower than anything else. And unconsciously the race knows i t a n d m a k e s i t e v i l . I t s a s t u p i d a p p r o a c h w e h a v e t o s e x ; i t s e v i l , a n d y e t w e a l l c o m e i n t h a t w a y . B u t p e o p l e d o n t s e e t h e o v e r a l l r e a s o n w h y , a n d t h e r e f o r e d i s t o r t i t . F o r t h a t m a t t e r e a t i n g f o o d is evil if having sex is evil. You see the evil thing is creating lack and then having a desire for that thing, and keeping ourselves bogged down in this delusion. So I see food as evil as sex, if either one of them be evil. The thing to do is to attain the desirelessness state. No desire, no needs, and then you are in the happiest state. ***

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 L i f e i n t h e w o r l d s h o u l d c o n s i s t o f o n l y t w o t h i n g s t h a t w h i c h h e l p s u s g r o w a n d t h a t w h i c h h e l p s o t h e r s g r o w . Lester Levenson
Session 21 ATTITUDE AND ACTION Attitude and action in our daily life should be consciously used for growth all the time. When so used there is no time when you are not growing. It is an excellent way of constant and continual growth. Remember, when you are not growing, you are regressing. Consider this as you reflect on some of these additional thoughts on attitude and action. *** All attitude and action should be in the direction of helping yourself and others toward Realization. *** Have an attitude of harmlessness toward all beings and do not want them to behave as you would like. The same thing said positively would be: have an attitude of love toward all beings and allow them to be the way they are. *** To every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. This is the law of compensation, also called karma. *** Daily toil is a waste of time unless you continuously use it to learn what you need to know from the resistance of it. Square it with love, take full responsibility and the resistance melts. The less toil and more quest and realization of Self, the righter the direction and the easier becomes living. *** Every act and every attitude is a step forward or a step backward. *** Everything that we do that is not in the direction of the Self forestalls the continuous bliss and sustains the misery. *** Determine the goal of your life and then find the shortest road to it.
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*** Everyone is doing exactly what he or she wants to. *** I t i s n t r i g h t f o r u s t o t e l l a n y o n e a n y t h i n g u n l e s s t h e y w a n t u s t o . *** D o n t w a s t e y o u r t i m e s o c i a l i z i n g ; u s e i t r e a l i z i n g . *** I f y o u c a n t d o i t y o u r s e l f , h o wc a n y o u t e l l s o m e o n e e l s e h o wt o d o i t ? *** N o t h i n g h a p p e n s t o u s t h a t i s n t c a u s e d b y u s . *** I c a n t m e a n s , I w o n t . E v e r y t h i n g i s p o s s i b l e . *** Hurriers are worriers and worriers are hurriers. *** Everyone is right as far as he goes. *** The more you act out the law of mutuality, the more capable you are of carrying it out naturally. *** Praise is destructive. It encourages and develops ego. *** Every act and thought that is not for the good of others creates a bondage, a limitation, that must necessarily materialize. *** Attitudes are far more important than actions.
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*** No matter what happens to a human being, no matter what it is, the heaviness is caused by his attitude toward it. *** When anything bad happens to you, know that only you are causing it. Then you can change it. *** Trying is an excuse for not doing. *** I f t w o p e o p l e w a n t t o f i g h t , s h o u l d w e s t o p t h e m ?I f i t i s m u t u a l , i t s r i g h t f o r t h e m . *** E c o n o m i z e y o u r t i m e . Mi n i s t e r o n l y t o y o u r n e e d s . D o n t w a s t e t i m e c r e a t i n g t h i n g s b e y o n d y o u r needs. *** Spend your time in search of ever-new joy or bliss. Then rest in the eternal serenity of bliss, night and day. *** Dependency is deadly for growth. *** A dependency relationship does not allow you to think for yourself, admits you are dependent on another human being, and prevents you from seeing your infinity. Conformity is dependency, is having to do what others do, wanting their approval. An independent person is always an oddball, not understood by society. *** Everything you do is with your inner motivation and is motivated from your inner state of beingness that you have attained. *** All action is ritual. ***

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Y o u v e g o t t o r e a d b e h i n d p e o p l e s w o r d s . *** L i f e i n t h e w o r l d s h o u l d c o n s i s t o f o n l y t w o t h i n g s t h a t w h i c h h e l p s u s g r o w , a n d t h a t w h i c h w i l l help others grow. *** Crying is motivated by a feeling that we cannot do. If we feel that we can do something about it we h a v e n o g r i e f . O u r t h o u g h t g o e s t o d o i n g i t r a t h e r t h a n t h i n k i n g , O h , I c a n t , I mh e l p l e s s . I f y o u t h o u g h t y o u c o u l d d o , y o u w o u l d n t c r y . I f y o u h a v e t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t y o u c a n d o , y o u w o n t c r y . I t s g o o d n o t t o g i v e i n t o g r i e f . C a n c e l g r i e f w h e n i t c o m e s b y a f f i r m i n g t h a t y o u c a n d o . *** T h e r e s n o s u c h t h i n g a s a m i s t a k e w e d o i t !T h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g a s a n a c c i d e n t w e d o i t ! *** To be interested in things outside of yourself you must get your interest off your little self. *** Y o u s h o u l d n t s u p p o r t p e o p l e i n t h e i r w e a k n e s s e s i t b o o m e r a n g s . *** Any advice comes back to you karmically. *** I f y o u e x p l a i n s o m e t h i n g , d o i t t h r o u g h t h e o t h e r o n e s p o i n t o f v i e w . *** That which you embrace becomes a part of you. *** I t s s o m u c h f a s t e r f o r y o u r g r o w t h t o k n o wt h a t o n l y y o u c a n d o i t f o r y o u . *** T h e r e s n o t h i n g b a d ; t h e r e s j u s t m a k i n g e r r o r s o n t h e w a y b a c k H o m e . ***

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Advice is ego playing God. *** Outlook differs according to the sight of the person. In gross eyes, mass is gross. In mental eyes, all is mental. If the eye (I) becomes the Self, the eye is infinite and all is seen as your infinite Self. *** Attitude toward a child and an adult should be the same. *** B e h a v i o r i s g e n e r a l . We d o n t b e h a v e o n e w a y w i t h o n e p e r s o n a n d a n o t h e r w a y w i t h a n o t h e r . *** Everything one does is motivated from their basic motivation; therefore, one behaves similarly in all s i t u a t i o n s . O n l y a f r e e d p e r s o n d o e s n t . T h a t i s w h y a f r e e d p e r s o n i s a n e n i g m a t o o t h e r s . *** Your behavior with the world will be the same as it is with your parents. *** O n e i s a f o o l w h o d o e s n t u s e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o t h e r s . I t i s a w i s e m a n w h o l e a r n s f r o mo t h e r s experiences. *** Your attitude toward anything will be your blessing or your curse. *** We look for confirmation of our feelings, positive or negative. Better look for the reality of things. *** Fully trust a crooked person and he will be honest with you. *** He who excuses, accuses himself. *** D o n t d e f e n d y o u r s e l f r e f o r m !
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*** Sympathy is something we should never feel, as sympathy is supporting the other one in his misery. Compassion is understanding him and wanting the best for him. *** If they think that sympathy is love, you have to grant them their right to think that. When they want s y m p a t h y t h e r e i s n o t h i n g y o u s h o u l d d o . Y o u c a n t j o i n t h e m , s o y o u j u s t l e t t h e mb e . *** Complexity is the lack of understanding. *** Tension is caused by wanting to go in two opposite ways at the same time. *** Being a skeptic is good if it causes you to prove things. *** Non-attachment is the way to happiness. Disown all things from your heart while taking care of them. Consider them borrowed for use only. Use them with gratitude. *** Perform material duties with service. Otherwise you are limiting yourself, your consciousness, your growth. *** Wh e n y o u a c t i n t h e w o r l d , y o u s h o u l d n t c a r e f o r t h e f r u i t s t h e r e o f . I f t h e y a r e g o o d , O . K . I f t h e y a r e b a d , O . K . I t s h o u l d n t m a t t e r h o wi t c o m e s o u t . Wh a t e v e r y o u d o , d o n t h a v e a t t a c h m e n t s o r aversions to it and you will transcend this world. *** Action does not cause bondage, but the sense of doership does. It is the wrong identifying of yourself as the doer of the action that causes bondage. *** I t d o e s n t m a t t e r w h a t w e d o i n t h e w o r l d s o l o n g a s w e r e m e m b e r w h a t w e a r e . ***

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If your interest is in God you should talk only about God. If one is on the path one should never talk about anything but God or the things necessary in living. Other than that the lips should be sealed. Talking not about God sends you in a downward direction. Anytime you are not talking about God, you are actually talking about the opposite. *** Nothing said should ever bother you. *** Anything that bothers you is not outside you. The bother is within you. *** Rebellion is better than the inability to rebel. Best is acceptance with no wish to rebel. *** Gratefulness is a very joyous state. Want to be always happy? Maintain a state of gratitude. *** Have no doubt and you can do anything. *** There is no doubt when you have radical reliance on God. *** See no obstacles and there will be no obstacles. *** He who gets elated necessarily gets deflated. *** E v e r y o n e s h o u l d b e y o u r f r i e n d . We v e g o t t o a t t a i n e q u a l m i n d e d n e s s t o w a r d a l l b e i n g s t o r e a c h the top. *** Our attitude should be the same toward all life. *** Almost everything that we do lessens God.
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*** When all are included, one is not deluded. *** T h e r e s o n e t h i n g w e c a n n o t d o a n d t h a t i s t o g i v e u p o u r m a s t e r s h i p . We o n l y b l i n d l y b e l i e v e w e can. We blindly give our power to others to hurt us. *** Discussing good actions and bad actions is discussing whether you should be good in the illusion or bad in the illusion. Realize that there is no illusion! *** When your understanding is high enough, you see only confirmations of truth in everything you hear, see or read. *** Isolation does not give quietude. Elimination of thought does. *** E s c a p e , b y m o v i n g a w a y f r o mp r o b l e m s , i s n o t q u i e t u d e . I t s m o m e n t a r i l y e s c a p i n g t h e d i s t u r b a n c e only to meet it again. *** The only quietude is within. Get to the place where no one and no thing can bother you. *** The highest compassion is to know that no compassion is necessary. *** Rightist action is completely selfless. *** T h e t w o g r e a t e s t t h i n g s y o u c a n d o a r e t o k e e p u p t h e q u e s t o f , Wh a t a mI ? a n d t o b e n o t t h e d o e r but be the witness. *** The greatest act is to only be.

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*** Beingness is higher than doingness, and doingness is higher than havingness. *** The more you just be, the more you realize that you are the world, every one and every thing. The more active you are, the more you are being limited by the particular act you are involved in. You are that personality involved in that act doing that particular thing which is quite infinitesimal in the realm o f i n f i n i t y !T h e g r e a t e s t a c t i o n i s i n t h e r e a l mo f i n a c t i o n b e i n g t h e A l l . Am a s t e r i s a i d i n g e v e r y being on this planet. By his seeing every person as a master he is supporting them as being a master. S o s e e i n g a n d s u p p o r t i n g n e a r l y f o u r b i l l i o n p e o p l e a s m a s t e r s i s q u i t e a n a c t i v i t y , i s n t i t ? *** A contented person needs no action. One who is not content must do. *** I n R e a l i t y , t h e r e s n o t h i n g t o b e d o n e , n o t h i n g t o b e a c h i e v e d . I f y o u c a n r e a l i z e t h a t , y o u v e g o t i t made! *** T h e b e s t b e h a v i o r i s t h a t w h i c h i s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e w a y a m a s t e r w o u l d a c t d i s p a s s i o n , seeing all as equals, being the witness, being not the doer. Maintain the state which is natural in the realized state! *** Be what you really are! Be your Self! *** Y o u c a n b e w h e n t h e r e i s n o s t r i v i n g ! *** All behavior should be that which is characteristic of the egoless state or the state of the Self: changelessness, equalmindedness; seeing only the Self, seeing only perfection; having the same attitude toward good and bad fortune, identifying with all, indifference to praise or censure; having joy only in your Self, having complete passivity, complete humbleness; being not the doer, having desirelessness, dispassion, non-attachment, forbearance. ***

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 T h e w o r l d a s w o r l d i s o n e l o n g s a d n e s s . T h e w o r l d a s s e l f i s o n e c o n s t a n t j o y Lester Levenson
Session 22 THE WORLD THE INCENTIVE We perceive the world through our physical body, more specifically, through our five physical senses. If we perceive the world and our physical body through our physical senses, then we cannot be the body vehicle that we are perceiving through, it being an instrument that we are using. Our prime objective then is to discover the perceiver. S a y t o y o u r s e l f , I a mn o t t h a t b o d y , I a mn o t t h a t m i n d w h a t a mI ? I n t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f a l l seeking and thinking, always keep this quest going. As we do this and the more difficult the world gets, the more incentive there is to seek the true H a p p i n e s s t h e S e l f . Wh e n l i f e i s e a s y , t h e i n c e n t i v e i s n o t a s s t r o n g . T h i s h u m a n , p h y s i c a l l i f e t h a t we are now in, is the most difficult of all living that we will ever experience and therefore presents the greatest opportunity for growth and realization. However, if one does not seek the Self and goes along w i t h t h e w o r l d , t h e n o n e s d e l u s i o n a n d i g n o r a n c e i n c r e a s e s , a n d t h a t i s t h e e x t r a h a z a r d o f b e i n g i n this difficult world. Now when things get worse, an important thing to remember is that if you lose your head, the Masters cannot help you. If you do not lose your head, you can see it as a motion picture and grow through it. Here are some additional thoughts on the world and the illusions we create. Let them build inside you. *** The world has a slave consciousness. Man is convinced that it is necessary to work for a living and therefore it is. Were this not so, nature would freely supply all needs. *** If you want to know how much hatred there is in the hearts of total Americans, look at the present conditions. However, we are not going backwards spiritually; we are advancing, in spite of what you see. We have been in a docile state of deep apathy holding subconscious thoughts of hostility, and now we are moving up and out of it. This is shown by our ability to express our hostility. Expressing is higher than suppressing. And this is what is happening in the world. You see it throughout everything today. The people are growing. However, the important thing for you to know is that there is nothing out there in the world but your consciousness. Let go of hostility and war and see the peace and harmony just behind it. A Master, a Christ, sees no hostility and destruction; He sees the Truth. He sees God as all. Now, if God is all and God is perfect, where is there imperfection? In Truth, in Reality, there is none. You must get to see this. You have to start with the correct assumption that God is all and God is perfect, and if you look through that consciousness, that is all you will see.
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*** We should not get too interested in this world if we want to know the Truth. *** The more you want and have of the world the more you let go of your limitless joy. *** The things of man are not the things of God. And man wants to foolishly hold onto the things of man. *** The world is nothing but a grinder-up of bodies. *** Desires bring us here and keep us coming here until we tire of it and have no more desire for it. *** To play with this world, to try to make it a good world, as is generally done in metaphysical teachings, is fruitless as far as Realization is concerned. However, it is useful in giving us a life that is more conducive to seeking the Truth. *** A c c e p t i n g p e o p l e s l i m i t e d i d e a s o f t h e w o r l d i s i n j u r i n g t h e Wo r l d ( a n d y o u r s e l f ) . *** Accepting worldly limitations adds your force to them by your validating them. *** Education today is mis-education. We are taught limitation and illusion. The most important things are not taught. Colleges have no courses on the most important subjects: happiness and love, and the life-principle itself. *** What we call knowledge in the world is ignorance. Everything that man is trying to learn is constantly changing, so therefore, all of it is incorrect. That which is true never changes. The knowledge of your Self requires dropping all knowledge of the world. ***
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T h e w o r l d a u t h o r i t i e s a r e g e n e r a l l y t h o s e w h o d o n t k n o w . *** The more multiplex one is, the more multiplex the world. *** When we want to change the world, it is the ego playing God. *** People set the vibration of a place. *** The whole world is thrashing, dashing, gnashing, gashing and slashing, which in the end, results in ashing. *** Exclusiveness is a blight on the world. Oneness is its salvation. *** You cannot exclude even one percent of the people in this World and attain Realization. *** A frustrated person is one who attempts to do and carry out things by himself instead of letting the forces of the Infinite do it. *** The real history of the World is not a series of dates, battles and events. It is the continuous story of its spiritual growth. Someday the history of this World will be rewritten correctly by a Master. But not until the world wants it. *** Clairvoyance and TV are similar except that clairvoyance is on a much higher frequency. *** People are like dogs with a mean master. No matter how much the world beats us we keep coming back for more. ***
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The World has moments of pleasure with far more pain in between. *** Chasing after joy in the world is an extremely frustrating thing. Has anyone attained full satisfaction in this world? *** Never let anyone know or tell anyone your weaknesses. People accept us at our own values and their mind goes to work to support the concepts. *** Our vision of the world is our own. No one sees this world as any other one sees it. *** If the world pulls you down it is because you have its negativity in you. *** We a t h e r i s c a u s e d b y t h e t o t a l o f a l l p e o p l e s c o n s c i o u s n e s s . *** The World beats you until you know your Self. *** T h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g a s a g o o d w o r l d . I t s t h e e x t r e m i s t l i m i t a t i o n m a n c a n i m p o s e o n h i m s e l f . I t is the helliest hell that he can live in. *** The World is a grand graveyard. Everything in it dies or disintegrates. *** If the world is real to you, you are all the time validating ego. *** All knowledge of the World is knowledge of delusion and must be let go of for Realization. *** The highest enjoyment in the World is a mere pittance compared to your natural inherent state of
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joy. *** The realer the World, the greater the misery. The realer the Self, the greater the joy. *** There is much more to this world than meets the physical eye. That which the eye sees is the least. *** The world is only God chopped up into little nothingnesses. *** The world is one long misery when seen as world but eternal joy when seen as your Self. *** The world is powerful only because we have been in the habit of it for a long, long time. *** Progress in the world lifts us from the physical agonies to the mental agonies. The world is a trap, a t t e m p t i n g t o t r a p i n f i n i t y i n t o f i n i t e n e s s a n i m p o s s i b i l i t y ! *** The true view of this world is intense joy. The deluded view is misery. See the world aright and have nothing but joy! *** The Absolute Perfection is above the perfection of the world. *** The only good world is a transcended world. *** When you take your attention off the world, you can see what you are. *** If you do not know the World is in you, how can you let go of it? If the world is out there, what can
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you do about it? *** Any pleasure in the world is a momentary ego satisfaction. *** The world is a limitation no matter how high you go, until you see the truth of it. *** P e o p l e w h o h a v e e n o u g h s p i r i t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g d o n t n e e d l a w s , d o n t n e e d p a r l i a m e n t s . *** The only way to get a good society is to get the individuals composing it good. *** All legislation is to control acts resulting from selfishness. When all are selfless, no laws are necessary. *** In the not-too-distant future, the president will be the highest spiritual person in the country, the vice-president the second highest, and so forth down. *** The world as world is one long sadness. The world as Self is one constant joy. *** World equals misery. Self equals joy. The cause of misery is that you think the world is real. The cause of joy is the knowing that the Self is real. *** In the world we are seeking to know the truth about the world as we see it. This is tantamount to wanting to see the truth about a lie. There is no truth, no changelessness, that can be found in the world. Only within our Self can we find the truth of the world. It should be obvious that with all the tremendous increase in knowledge of the world acquired in the past 25 years, man has become less happy rather than more happy. Any knowledge other than knowle d g e o f o n e s S e l f i s n o t r i g h t k n o w l e d g e . I t i s b e c a u s e o f t h e a f o r e s a i d t h a t o u r a u t h o r i t i e s o f t o d a y a r e of muddling minds, are constantly changing their knowledge and theories. Someday they will discover that they are about 90% wrong. Only the knower of his Self can be correct in the knowledge of the world. He can change the 90% to 0%.
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*** The world is a play act. You have written, in your imaginative mind, the script, the acts, and the actors, and yourself as one of the actors. Recognize this and dwell in your authorship. *** The limiting of infinity gives the appearance of matter and energy. *** You have to master the world; otherwise, it is master over you. *** If there is anything in the world we like or dislike, it is master over us. *** Use the world to transcend the world. Look at your attachments and aversions to it and drop them. Not seeing the world as it is, is an aversion to it. *** You have to start mastering the world because you are convinced the world is master over you. You must see that you are the one who determines it. That makes you master over it. The next step is to b e c o m e m a s t e r o v e r y o u r m i n d , a n d t h e n y o u a r e a Ma s t e r . ( I t s a n i c e f e e l i n g w h e n y o u s t a r t m a s t e r i n g t h e w o r l d , i s n t i t ? ) *** The world is a tremendous magnet. *** Primarily, you have to unwant the World and want your Self. *** Y o u d o n t h a v e t o b e s u b j e c t t o a n y t h i n g b e c a u s e y o u a r e m a s t e r o f e v e r y t h i n g . *** T h e t r u t h i s , w e c r e a t e d t h e s t a r s a n d t h e p l a n e t s . T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t o r u n t h e m . D o n t l e t them run you. ***

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L o o k a t t h e e a r t h s i n f l u e n c e o n y o u a n d u n d o i t . *** Rather than be automatically locked into the world, keep up your vigilance of remembering your true Self. *** The world is a very good place for rapid growth because your ego is being presented to you every time you talk to someone or someone talks to you. Daily, look at your ego motivations and let them go! *** Every act in the world is motivated by your ego, until, of course, there is no more ego. Then action goes on egolessly. *** A f t e r y o u s c o r c h e n o u g h o f t h e m i n d , t h e n t h e w o r l d d o e s n t t r a p y o u . *** There is immediate realization of the Self the moment one sees the unreality of the world. *** Wh e n t h e e y e s e e s t h e w o r l d a s I t h a t i s R e a l i z a t i o n . *** Now you see the World as a very variegated variety. When you see the singular substance just b e h i n d i t , y o u s e e t h e r e a l i t y o f i t . S e e i n g t h e r e a l i t y , y o u w i l l s e e t h e s i n g u l a r n e s s a s t h e S e l f y o u r Self. *** When you see the Self, the world does not disappear; your view of it changes. It will not look like it does now. You will see it as your Self. *** The only reason people do not get Realization is that they have more desire for the world than for Realization. *** I t i s t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e w o r l d i s r e a l t h a t i s t h e c a u s e o f o n e s d i f f i c u l t y i n k e e p i n g o u t h a b i t u a l
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thoughts. Were it not for this belief, realization of your Self would be easy. And this is your prime d i f f i c u l t y t h i s b e l i e f t h a t t h e b o d y , m i n d a n d w o r l d a r e r e a l . *** Our pleasures must be taken directly, not attributed to things outside of ourselves. *** Looking for joy in the world makes Realization impossible. The source of that joy is you, and it is not outside of you. *** Only desire for this world keeps us in the world. *** Y o u a r e c a u s i n g e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d y o u e v e n w h e n s o m e o n e e l s e s e e m s t o b e d o i n g i t . Wh e n y o u r e a l i z e t h i s , y o u l l t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r e v e r y t h i n g . *** I f y o u d o n t l i k e t h e w o r l d , c h a n g e y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h a t i s a l l t h e r e i s o u t t h e r e ( y o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s ) a n d i t s t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t y o u c a n c h a n g e , t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t y o u s h o u l d t r y t o c h a n g e . Make the World perfect by perfecting your consciousness and all will be perfect. *** The Truth of the world is just behind what you now see. *** Declare your mastership rather than be a victim. *** T h e w h o l e w o r l d i s j u s t a m e r e t h o u g h t t h i n k o n t h a t ! *** I and world, seer and seen, rise simultaneously, concurrently, co-dependently, and necessarily exist co-existently. The creation is instantaneous with the creator. Realize this. There is no world without the one who sees it. Realize the seer, within whom the apparency, the world, was imaged. The reality then is only the Seer. ***

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 I f y o u c o u l d l e t g o o f t h i n k i n g , a n d i n j u s t o n e e a s y t h o u g h t w i t h n o o t h e r t h o u g h t s a r o u n d t h i n k , l a mp e r f e c t , y o u d i n s t a n t l y h a v e a p e r f e c t b o d y . Lester Levenson
Session 23 A PERFECT BODY PERFECT UNDERSTANDING Should we try to achieve a perfect body? I would say yes, definitely yes. We should be able to perfect the body. But once we are able to do that, then it is better to let the body be the way it is, healthy or sick, and not be affected by it. When one has enough understanding, no matter what happens to the body, it is all the same to them. Having given you an over-all approach, let me now go into it in more detail. If we want a perfect b o d y a n d w e d o n t h a v e a p e r f e c t b o d y , i t m e a n s t h a t w e d o n t h a v e t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t w e c a n m a k e the body perfect. It means we are subconsciously holding in our mind a consciousness of an imperfect body. The body is an exact copy of the mind, the body being only our consciousness projected outwardly. We must change our subconscious thinking until we subconsciously have the conviction that our body is perfect. That will do it. Now, is it necessary to have a perfect body? No, it is not. However, it is necessary to have a perfect understanding. To get this understanding is if you cannot have a perfect body, then learn to make your body perfect. When you can, then go beyond the necessity of a perfect body by getting the spiritual u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f , I a mn o t t h e b o d y a n d , T h e b o d y d o e s n o t a f f e c t m e . T h i s i s a m u c h h i g h e r s t a t e . In fact, this is one of the highest of states: to be able to maintain your equanimity regardless of what is happening to the body!

FINITE FORM This body is not infinite. It is an extremely limited vehicle and very, very delicate. Change the internal temperature 12 degrees and it dies. Put tiny amounts of chemicals (poisons) in it and it dies. Cut out oxygen and it dies. So this body is an extremely limited vehicle. It is much better to not be the physical body, to be what you really are, and get out from under the fear of death, the basic fear behind all other fears. The discipline of having an imperfect body and not allowing it to bother you, is a very high spiritual discipline. Many fully realized masters go through life with a sick body, setting an example of nonemphasis on the body, because the body is a cage of limitation. We are not in the body, but the body is i n u s . O u r g r e a t e s t l i m i t a t i o n i s , I a mt h i s b o d y . N o t o n l y i s t h e b o d y a l i m i t a t i o n , b u t a l s o associated with it are hundreds of other limitations. So, although at first I corrected body imperfections instantly, I now prefer not to correct the body, but to have it touch me not, not even in the slightest, regardless of what is happening to it. This is something I started three or four years ago. I can tell you what happens when you do not identify with the body. I was just thinking of the time I w a s l o a d i n g t r e e s f o r f i r e w o o d o n t o a t r u c k a n d t h e t r e e w o u l d n t g o . I s a i d , I l l m a k e t h i s g o , a n d I gave a tremendous push while I had my shoulder against a tree trunk. The tree went on and I slipped a disc at the bottom of my spine. The reason I mention this incident is that this was an excruciatingly
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p a i n f u l o n e . I m m e d i a t e l y , I a l m o s t c o l l a p s e d f r o mt h e p a i n . T h e n I s a i d , L e s t e r , b e n o t t h e b o d y . N o w , t h e b o d y d o e s n t b o t h e r m e i f I a mn o t t h e b o d y . I w a s a w a r e t h a t t h e r e w a s a p a i n , b u t i t w a s like a weak distant pain and it did not bother me. I could immediately load other trees. The body acted just as though it were not imperfect. I h a v e d o n e t h a t a t o t h e r t i m e s . I o n c e s p r a i n e d a n a n k l e a n d i t s w e l l e d . T h a t s p a i n f u l t o o , a n d when I did not identify with the body, I walked off as though the foot was perfect, and yet there was a sprained ankle there. When I had that slipped disc, I would awaken in the morning and, forgetting, I would not immediately not be the body and the pain would be severe. To get out of bed, I would actually have to fall out on hands and knees. I remember doing this the first day or two. Then I would s h a k e m y h e a d a n d s a y , Wo w , w h a t i s t h i s ! R e c o g n i z i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n , I w o u l d s a y , O h , I a mn o t t h e b o d y ; t h e n I w o u l d s t a n d u p , m o v e t h r o u g h t h e d a y a s t h o u g h t h e b o d y w e r e O Ka n d t h e b o d y could do any thing and every thing; and yet, there was a weak distant pain that I knew was there, but it did not bother me. Now, this type of disciplining is excellent if one can do it. Be not the body! Do you have any questions?

QUESTIONSANDANSWERS Q : Wo u l d n t i t b e s o m u c h s i m p l e r t o s i m p l y s a y , T h e b o d y s p e r f e c t , a n d t h e n h a v e a p e r f e c t b o d y ?A f t e r a l l , y o u c o n t r o l y o u r b o d y w h y e v e n h a v e t h e p a i n o r f e e l u n c o m f o r t a b l e w h e n y o u g e t out of bed? L e s t e r : We l l , w h e n I g o t o u t o f b e d , I w a s i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e b o d y ; t h a t s w h y i t p a i n e d s o . B u t t h e m o m e n t I d i d n t , e v e r y t h i n g w a s a l l r i g h t . I d s t a n d u p a n d t h e b o d y w o u l d d o a n y t h i n g . N o w , t h i s is a test of your spiritual knowingness. This is much higher. This is being not the body. Q: How can the body be imperfect when you said before your body is a reflection of your m e n t a l i t y , a n d i f y o u k n o wt h a t t h e r e s o n l y p e r f e c t i o n , h o wc a n y o u h a v e a n i m p e r f e c t b o d y ? Lester: At first, I identified with the body and then, after minutes, I did not. A perfect body is not t h e h i g h e s t s t a t e . Ab o d y i s a l i m i t a t i o n e v e n w h e n i t s p e r f e c t . I t s a p e r f e c t b o d y . I t s s t i l l a b o d y , b u t p e r f e c t . Ah i g h e r s t a t e i s n o t b e i n g t h e b o d y , b u t b e i n g t h e A l l . A h , y o u r e s h a k i n g y o u r h e a d n o w . Have I answered it? Q : I mb e g i n n i n g t o f o l l o ww h a t y o u r e g e t t i n g a t . L e s t e r : S o a g a i n , i t s a m a t t e r o f l e v e l , b u t b e c a u s e w e r e n o t i n t o a l e v e l t h a t i s h i g h , I w a n t t o s t a y there. Be not the body! Be what you really are! Be infinite! Be the All! Perfection is not a perfect body. Perfection is absolute perfection. Although you have a tendency to bring it down into perfect things, perfection does not relate to things. No thing is perfect. Every thing is a thing of limitation, confined to form and space. So the top state, the absolute, is a state of no t h i n g s . I t s j u s t b e i n g n e s s , o r p u r e c o n s c i o u s n e s s , p u r e a w a r e n e s s . T h a t s n o t b e i n g a b o d y , a t h i n g . I t s j u s t b e i n g . So to sum it up, we should have perfect bodies! If we have bodies that pull on our attention all the t i m e , i t s d i f f i c u l t t o s e e k t h e T r u t h . S o r i d y o u r s e l f o f b o d y d e m a n d s . Ma k e t h e b o d y a s p e r f e c t a s you can; however, it is a higher state when the body does not affect us because of our not identifying with the body. I s i t c l e a r n o w , t h e s e t w o d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s o f b o d y ?I t s g r e a t t o m a k e a p e r f e c t b o d y . I t i s f a r b e t t e r to be not the body. Q : Y o u s e e , i t s v e r y d i f f i c u l t f o r m e t o b e b e i n g n e s s o r a w a r e n e s s w i t h o u t b e i n g s o m e t h i n g o r
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aware of something. L e s t e r : T h a t s t r u e f o r m o s t o f u s . B u t t h e t o p s t a t e i s j u s t b e i n g n e s s , o n l y b e i n g n e s s , o r c o n s c i o u s n e s s , o n l y c o n s c i o u s n e s s . I t s c o n s c i o u s n e s s c o n s c i o u s o f a l l c o n s c i o u s n e s s . I t s b e i n g n e s s being all beingness. And consciousness and beingness mean the same thing at the top. Q : We l l , c a n t w e e n j o y t h e l i m i t a t i o n a t t h e t i m e ? L e s t e r : Y o u c a n . Y o u c a n i f y o u c h o o s e , b u t t h a t s n o t t h e u l t i m a t e j o y . I f y o u w a n t m o r e j o y , d o n t e n j o y t h e t h i n g e n j o y t h e j o y . B e j o y !H a p p i n e s s i s o u r n a t u r a l i n h e r e n t s t a t e . We a r e t h e A l l . We artificially create a lack and then a desire to relieve that lack, which, when that lack is undone, s e e m s t o m a k e u s f e e l b e t t e r . I t s l i k e s t i c k i n g a p i n i n t o y o u r s k i n u n t i l i t h u r t s a n d t h e n w h e n y o u t a k e t h e p i n o u t , y o u s a y , G e e , t h a t f e e l s g o o d . T h i s i s e x a c t l y w h a t e n j o y i n g t h i n g s a n d p e o p l e i s . We h u r t o u r s e l v e s b y c r e a t i n g a l a c k a n d t h e n r e m o v e t h e l a c k a n d t h e p a i n , a n d s a y , G e e , t h a t f e e l s g o o d . T h a t m a k e s m e h a p p y . Every time you feel happiness, you feel only your real Self, more or less. The happier you are, the more you feel your real Self. But you wrongly attribute it to things and people outside of yourself. This is very important so let me restate the mechanism. When you create the lack, you start up thoughts: I need this person or this thing to make me happy. This causes a bit of pain, which you experience as a need, a lack. When you are relieved of that thought of lack, you return back to being your Self, and this is what you call happiness. So that what you have been calling happiness is really only a doing away with a correlation of happiness which is your inherent natural state, restoring it and then wrongly attributing it to external people and things so that we become attached to these external people and things. S o , i f y o u w a n t t o e n j o y a b o d y , t h a t s y o u r p r i v i l e g e . B u t , i f y o u w a n t m o r e j o y , d o n t e n j o y t h e b o d y , j u s t b e j o y , w h i c h y o u n a t u r a l l y a r e . T h a t s y o u r n a t u r a l s t a t e . Wh e n y o u s e e t h a t y o u a r e t h e A l l , t h e r e s n o t h i n g l a c k i n g . I t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y t o n e e d t h i n g s . S o , t a k e y o u r j o y d i r e c t l y b e y o u r Self. That joy is infinite. Q: Would you discuss your experiences of changing your body because really, many of us are in a s t a g e o f d e v e l o p m e n t w h e r e w e d o n t q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d t h i s . O r m a y b e I s h o u l d t a l k a b o u t m y s e l f n o t a b o u t u s . L e s t e r : O K . Wh a t h a p p e n e d t o m e w a s t h a t I s a wt h a t t h e r e s a s m u c h l i f e i n t h i s b o d y a s t h e r e i s i n a p i e c e o f w o o d . I t s c o m p o s e d o f c a r b o h y d r a t e s a n d m i n e r a l s , t h e s a m e c h e m i c a l s a s i n a p i e c e o f wood. I saw that the only life in this body is I. I put the life into the body. I saw that the body is my consciousness, and my consciousness puts the life into it. When I saw that I make the body, then I saw that I can change it. I can mentally change it. The body I have now is the accumulated education, body-wise, that I have gathered up to date. This i s m y c o n c e p t o f a b o d y . T h a t s y o u r c o n c e p t o f y o u r b o d y . I t s d e e p l y s u b c o n s c i o u s r i g h t n o w . T h i s is why it can be difficult to change the body. To perfect it requires the seemingly impossible task of letting go of all these past concepts of imperfection of body. But this can be done when you release. Another way, is to put in your mind what should be there, a picture of a perfect body. Now, this picture of the perfect body must be put in with will power. And it must be more powerful than the sum total of all the pictures in the past of an imperfect body. You must image the picture of a perfect body w i t h a t h o u g h t t h a t s s t r o n g e r t h a n a l l t h e p a s t t h o u g h t s . D o e s t h a t m a k e s e n s e ?T h i s i s t h e m e c h a n i c s of it. All right, now what is a powerful thought? A powerful thought is a concentrated thought. The more concentrated, the more powerful the thought. A concentrated thought is a thought without other extraneous thoughts present at the time. The very best way to get a most powerful thought is to let go o f y o u r s e l f , y o u r l i t t l e s e l f ; l e t g o o f y o u r f e e l i n g t h a t I h a v e t h i s o r I h a v e t h a t . T h e n s a y , Y e s , t h e r e i s
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o n l y p e r f e c t i o n , a n d t h a t i n c l u d e s t h i s b o d y . L e t g o o f t h e w o r l d ; l e t g o o f y o u r t h i n k i n g a s y o u r m i n d i s y o u r b i g g e s t o b s t a c l e . Y o u r m i n d i s g o i n g a l l t h e t i m e , w h e t h e r y o u r e a w a r e o f i t o r n o t . Wh e n y o u r e n o t c o n s c i o u s o f i t , i t s g o i n g o n s u b c o n s c i o u s l y . Y o u v e t r a i n e d y o u r s e l f t o t h i n k , t h i n k , t h i n k . Y o u v e g o t t h e m i n d s p i n n i n g w i t h a l l t h e s e t h o u g h t s . Y o u v e g i v e n a l o t o f i m p o r t a n c e t o t h i s t h i n k i n g . T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f i t i s a l s o s u b c o n s c i o u s , s o i t s n o t e a s y t o l e t g o o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f thinking. And this is an obstacle to your concentrating. I f y o u c o u l d l e t g o o f t h i n k i n g , a n d i n j u s t o n e e a s y t h o u g h t w i t h n o o t h e r t h o u g h t s a r o u n d , t h i n k I a mp e r f e c t , y o u d i n s t a n t l y h a v e a p e r f e c t b o d y . I t l l t a k e a c o n t i n u o u s t r y i n g u n t i l y o u a c h i e v e i t . A n almost effortless thought is the way it is affected because your mind is quiet at the time. And you might not even be aware of it when it happens. You might become aware of it later on. I was just reminded of a case of a man who was in a wheelchair for many years, I believe ten. His house caught on fire and he packed two bags, ran out of the house and sat down on them. It was after h e h a d s a t d o w n o n t h e b a g s t h a t h e h a d r e a l i z e d w h a t h e h a d d o n e . H e h a d f o r g o t t e n t h a t h e c o u l d n t w a l k . S e e , w h e n i t d o e s h a p p e n , y o u r e a c c e p t i n g t h e p o s i t i v e s o m u c h t h a t t h e n e g a t i v e i s f o r g o t t e n for the time being. T o s u mi t u p , t h e t h i n g t h a t w i l l e f f e c t a p e r f e c t b o d y i s a v e r y s t r o n g c o n v i c t i o n , My b o d y i s p e r f e c t . S a y i n g i t i n a n o t h e r w a y , i t i s a c o n c e n t r a t e d t h o u g h t , w h i c h i s a t h o u g h t u n d i s t u r b e d b y o t h e r thoughts at the time. And the feeling is a feeling of let-go. You just let go and let the perfection be. Q : S o , w h a t y o u r e r e a l l y s a y i n g i s w h e n I s e e a l l p e r f e c t i o n , m y t h o u g h t s a r e s o b a s e d u p o n perfection that my body automatically takes that perfection. Lester: Yes, if you see the all-perfection, then everything is absolutely perfect... everything. Q: Then, I cannot have an imperfect body. Lester: Right. Q : A n d t h i s b e i n g v e r y , v e r y p e a c e f u l i f I g o i n t o p s y c h o s o m a t i c m e d i c i n e , t h e y c l a i mt h a t t h e body difficulties are caused by turmoils in the mind. And if these are quieted, then the body may be corrected without any thought about it. Lester: Yes, if you quiet the subconscious mind. You see, the body is working on an automatic pilot. Everything happening in the body, we are doing subconsciously, automatically. So, you have to straighten out the subconscious thinking. Q: When you were in New York and you accomplished a lot, did you do it systematically? Did you just see perfection so completely, or did you realize the power of your mind? Just exactly what method did you use? Lester: Well, when I did it, it was almost like a by-product. I sat down with a determination to get t h e a n s w e r s t o Wh o a mI ? Wh a t a mI ? Wh a t i s t h i s Wo r l d ? Wh a t i s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ? I n the process which, I saw Perfection and this universe, including this body, was a product of consciousness, my thinking. I therefore imaged the body as perfect and instantly it was. Gone were the ulcers, the jaundice, the coronary trouble and other imperfections. It was very easy. It was like an almost effortless thought. T h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s o f h e a l i n g t h e b o d y . S p i r i t u a l l y , i t s i n s t a n t a n e o u s . T h e r e s o n l y p e r f e c t i o n a n d t h a t s a l l t h e r e i s a n d i t i s i n s t a n t a n e o u s . Me n t a l l y , i t i s d o n e f r o mi n s t a n t a n e o u s l y t o very fast, in days or in weeks, depending upon your mental concept of how fast you can do it. Q : Wh e n y o u r e u s i n g t h e w o r d b o d y , i t a l s o w o u l d i n c l u d e a l l o u r e n v i r o n m e n t , w o u l d n t i t ? T h e r e s r e a l l y n o d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n o u r b o d y a n d o u r e n v i r o n m e n t .
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L e s t e r : T h a t s t r u e i n t h e s e n s e t h a t i t i s a l l o u r c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t I ms p e a k i n g s p e c i f i c a l l y o f t h e b o d y b e c a u s e w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h a t . A c t u a l l y , t h e w h o l e m a t e r i a l w o r l d a n d t h e b o d y a r e v e r y similar in creation. They are the physical out-projecting of our mind. Have I answered all your questions on it? See, it does not help you much when I tell you what I did. Y o u v e g o t t o d o i t y o u r w a y . A n d a s I s e e i t , y o u r w a y i s o v e r c o m i n g t h e a c c u m u l a t e d w r o n g b o d y thinking of the past. This is a carry-over from a prior life. This is how deeply ingrained it is in you. If y o u c a n p e r f e c t i t , g o o d . I f y o u c a n t , d o n t m a k e a b i g i s s u e o f i t b e c a u s e i t s b e t t e r t o l i v e w i t h i t a n d n o t b e i t . G e t y o u r s p i r i t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g . T h a t s f a r m o r e i m p o r t a n t . Wh a t s s o g r e a t a b o u t t h e b e s t o f b o d i e s ?T h e y d e c a y s o o n e r o r l a t e r . T h e v e r y b e s t o f b o d i e s b e c o m e s a w f u l l y s t e n c h y s o o n e r o r l a t e r w h e n i t s t a r t s d e c a y i n g . S o , w h a t s t h i s b i g t h i n g a b o u t bodies? Approach it from a higher point. Q: As I understand it, if I have a sense of perfection, which would include my body, the body could not be imperfect. L e s t e r : T h a t s c o r r e c t . G e t i t !A n d w h e n y o u g e t i t , n o t o n l y t h e b o d y b u t e v e r y t h i n g b e c o m e s perfect, which is far better than having just a perfect body. Then you have the whole universe perfect a n d t h a t s a v e r y , v e r y h i g h s t a t e . T o s e e t h e p e r f e c t i o n w h e r e t h e i m p e r f e c t i o n s e e m s t o b e i s t h e highest state. ***

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 D i s c o v e r w h o t h e s u f f e r e r i s a n d o n d i s c o v e r i n g t h i s y o u w i l l f i n d a l l j o y Lester Levenson
Session 24 GROWTH CAN BE EVERY DAY THE WORLD AS A MIRROR Most of us do not realize that every day we are presented with wonderful opportunities to make major steps in our growth. Were we to look at and see this, the Goal that seems so difficult and elusive would soon be in our possession. Awaken to this fact and be done with worldly miseries! To do this, we must accept the worldly happenings as they relate to us as our means of growth, as our teacher. We must look at all the unpleasantries; we must face them squarely with an objective eye and seek and find both their cause and their gift. The method should be either or both of two approaches. Whenever someone or something bothers u s a n d w e a r e u n h a p p y , o r w h e n e v e r w e r e a c t t o s o m e o n e o r s o m e t h i n g , a s k , H o wa n d w h e r e i n d i d I c a u s e t h i s ? L o o k w i t h i n t h e m i n d t o f i n d t h e p a s t t h o u g h t , n o ws u b c o n s c i o u s , t h a t c a u s e d t h e e v e n t . Discover the originating thought and discover mastership over the event. The second approach is more readily available. Every time we react or experience something u n p l e a s a n t , i t i s a l w a y s b e c a u s e o f s o m e e g o m o t i v a t i o n . A s k , Wh a t i s m y e g o ( s e l f i s h ) m o t i v a t i o n b e h i n d t h i s ?Wh a t , i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , d o I w a n t t o b e d i f f e r e n t f r o mw h a t i t i s ? Wh e n y o u d i s c o v e r i t , let go of the ego desire or of wanting it to be different. Use your daily unpleasantries for growing freer every day. The more you do this, the faster and easier it is to do. Either or both of the above methods will free you and return to you your mastership in a relatively short time. Make it a habit of using both, or one or the other, every day. Here are some additional thoughts for your consideration: *** Wh e n e v e r y o u r e u n h a p p y d o n o t l o o k f o r e s c a p e f r o mi t v i a t h e d i s t r a c t i o n o f d o i n g s o m e t h i n g else, or seeking entertainment. This is the worst thing you can do. You will never be able to let go of or eliminate unhappiness in this way. Either discover your mastership of the event or see the ego motivation behind the misery and thereby undo that particular unhappiness. Almost everyone, when unhappy, looks for escape and calls the escape or relief from the misery, happiness. This allows the unhappiness pattern to continue in the future. It postpones the time indefinitely as to when one will have to eliminate the unhappiness. Escape is the worst palliative in the world, worse than drugs. Every escape is a complete waste of time and furthers the continuance of the misery. The more you feel misery, the deeper it becomes ingrained. Therefore, one should not escape from nor remain in misery, but should use one of the above two methods to get out of it permanently. *** A l l u n h a p p i n e s s i s c a u s e d b y o u r t r y i n g t o b e l i m i t e d a n e g o . T h e m o r e w e a r e o u r S e l f , t h e happier we are. We will never be completely happy until we are completely being our Self.
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*** Why waste time in entertainment, escape? Looking to entertainment each time delays and pushes the Goal a bit further away. Only a realized non-attached being can enjoy things in the world without creating bondages and miseries. ***

What everyone is looking for in entertainment is escape from misery and the happiness of the Self. *** Escaping misery keeps you forever miserable. *** Problems are a constant reminder that we are moving in the wrong direction. *** Every pain arises basically from limiting your Self. *** A person cannot be happy if he has inner anxieties. Anxieties are expecting to happen that which you do not want to happen. Expect only that which you do want. *** I t s t h e e g o s e n s e o f b e i n g a s e p a r a t e i n d i v i d u a l t h a t i s t h e s o u r c e o f a l l t r o u b l e . *** All unhappiness is separation. Limitation and misery are the same. *** Misery is caused when an infinite being tries to be a limited being. *** If, when you are miserable, you would think and feel the opposite, that is what you would effect. *** Misery is complexity. Happiness is simplicity.

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*** I f y o u s e e m i s e r y , i t s y o u r m i s e r y . Wh e n y o u s e e t h e p e r f e c t i o n w h e r e t h e s e e m i n g i m p e r f e c t i o n seems to be, the misery is only an apparency. *** The more miserable you get, the less you should look for an escape (socializing, entertainment). R a t h e r i s o l a t e u n t i l y o u s e e a n d l e t g o o f t h e r e a s o n f o r i t o r , m o v e i n t o y o u r r e a l S e l f . N e v e r l e t g o of, through escape from misery, a good opportunity to grow. *** Misery is just the whip we set up to whip ourselves into happiness. *** The more we move away from our Self, the more miserable we become until finally we get so miserable that we cannot take it any more and then we begin to move back into our Self. *** Y o u c r e a t e a l i e w h e n y o u s a y , I d o n t h a v e , a n d t h a t s t a r t s t h e u n h a p p i n e s s o f n o t h a v i n g . *** A n y t i m e y o u r e m i s e r a b l e y o u r e d w e l l i n g i n y o u r e g o . J u s t b e i n g m i s e r a b l e s h o u l d b e a r e a l i g n e r f o r y o u . S a y , H e r e I a mi n t h e w r o n g d i r e c t i o n . T h e n c h a n g e i t a n d y o u l l b e h a p p y a g a i n . *** A n y o n e c a n f e e l h a p p y ; a n y o n e c a n f e e l m i s e r a b l e . Y o u d o n t h a v e t o s e e w h y j u s t c h a n g e i t ! *** Every worldly attachment is a dedication to misery. *** Misery is the setting up of limitation. *** Misery is to the degree that we think we are limited. *** Every pleasure in the world has an accompanying pain because there is associated with it the feeling
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that this pleasure may not be sustained in the future. *** You turn your feelings on and, if you take credit for them, you can turn them off, that is, control them. However, be careful not to suppress them. *** If you really see the reality of a problem, it is licked. *** You can resolve any problem here and now. *** Every problem is an ego problem. In order to have a problem there has to be an ego frustration. *** Martyrdom can be ego. *** Suffering is the opposite of godliness. *** Suffering is not spiritual. *** God is joy. Suffering is Satan. *** The more you suffer, the more you will suffer. *** Suffering karmically develops and leads to more suffering. *** Suffering is good when it drives you to God, or to seek your Self. ***
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Every time you feel miserable, there is presented an excellent opportunity to make a big step forward. ***

The less we allow our Self to be, the more miserable we find ourselves. *** F e e l i n g s a d a b o u t a n y t h i n g i s h o l d i n g o n t o i t . S a y , T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g I h a v e t o l e t g o o f , a n d immediately you will feel better. *** Wh e n y o u a r e m i s e r a b l e y o u s h o u l d n t t r y t o e s c a p e i t . G e t q u i e t a n d g o w i t h i n u n t i l y o u s e e t h e reason for it, or better, be your Self. *** If you will take full responsibility for feeling bad, you will feel like a master. *** Every time you feel restless or unhappy, there is ego desire behind it. If you can get it up into view, y o u l l l e t g o o f i t w i t h a c h u c k l e . I t s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o l e t g o o f s o m e t h i n g t h a t s r u n n i n g y o u . L o o k for the ego-motivated desire and when you see it, let go of it and immediately feel lighter and happier. *** Every time you drop ego, you experience joy. *** Discover who the sufferer is and on discovering this you find all joy. ***

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 Ma r r y t o h e l p t h e o t h e r o n e g e t r e a l i z a t i o n . Ma r r y o n l y t o h e l p t h e o t h e r o n e f u l l y k n o wG o d t h a t s h o u l d b e t h e b a s i s f o r m a r r i a g e . Lester Levenson
Session 25 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS THE SEARCH Why do we marry? Why do we have children? What are we seeking in marriage? In children? The answer to all of these questions is: We want the greatest happiness. We believe that in marrying and in having children we will be happy. Were that true, all married people would be happy. But a mere look at our institution of marriage belies this. Wherein lies the fault? Is it in marriage? No, the fault lies within us. We wrongly look in the wrong direction. We externally seek happiness outside of ourselves in others. We will never find a continuous happiness with no sorrow so long as we look to others or to things outside of ourselves. A happy person is one who takes his happiness from within and he is happy whether married or single. Should we marry or should we not marry? That is a moot question. You will do exactly what you will do. You have predetermined precisely what you will do on this point. Therefore, the important question should be: How can I attain the ultimate happiness? Marriage affords an excellent opportunity for growth and should be so used. One is constantly c o n f r o n t e d w i t h s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e o n e m a y i n c r e a s e o n e s l o v e f o r o n e s f a m i l y . E v e r y d a y w e s h o u l d make it a practice of increasing our love, using all the situations we find ourselves in wherein we are not loving to the best of our ability, but consciously increasing our love for the other one until it is completely selfless. When we reach the state of selfless love, we have reached the Godhead.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: Why is it a difficult thing to be married, Lester? Lester: Some people find it very easy. The difficulty is in us and not in marriage. Q : I t h a s a p o s i t i v e a s p e c t , h a s n t i t ?I s n t t h e r e a r e l e a s e f r o ms e l f i s h n e s s ? Lester: Yes. Marriage should teach us selflessness. Q : S o i n t h a t w a y t h e r e i s a p o s i t i v e s t e p i f i t s h a n d l e d c o r r e c t l y . I t t e a c h e s l o v e o f o n e p e r s o n , t h e r e f o r e y o u c a n e n l a r g e i t i n t h e f a m i l y a n d t h e n t o a l a r g e r u n i t . I s n t t h a t t r u e ? L e s t e r : Y e s . I t s a p o s i t i v e s t e p w h e r e i n y o u r e i n v o l v e d i n a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h y o u c a n l e a r n n o n p o s s e s s i v e n e s s . I t s a v e r y p o s i t i v e s t e p i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . T h e t h i n g w e r e l o o k i n g f o r i n a m a t e i s t h e t h i n g c a l l e d l o v e . L o v e i s t h e B e i n g n e s s t h a t w e a r e . L o v e i s G o d . L o o k i n g f o r i t i n a m a t e w e never find it. However, if one is married, one should very definitely love his or her mate as much as possible. When we learn how to love a mate properly, we can love others properly. When we realize what love is and what we are really seeking, we stop seeking it externally in a mate or in the world, and we seek it within. The very best marriage is to marry God. Could you get a better mate?
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Q: Should we be married? L e s t e r : I d o n t t a l k a g a i n s t m a r r i a g e ; I d o n t t a l k f o r i t . I w a n t y o u t o h a v e w h a t y o u w a n t f o r yourself. A married person can find God, but has more obstacles than a single person. A single person can more easily concentrate on the path. A married person is forced to be concerned about his mate a n d c h i l d r e n , i f t h e r e b e c h i l d r e n . N o w , m o s t p e o p l e w h o s a y , I l l g e t m a r r i e d a n d c o n t i n u e o n t h e p a t h , a l m o s t i n v a r i a b l y g e t s o i n v o l v e d i n t h e i r m a r r i a g e t h e y d o n t h a v e t i m e n o r i n c l i n a t i o n f o r t h e p a t h . S o , i n t h a t s e n s e i t s a n o b s t a c l e . Q : U n l e s s y o u m a r r i e d s o m e o n e w h o w a s s e a r c h i n g f o r i t a l s o , w o u l d n t i t b e a v e r y d i f f i c u l t t h i n g ? Lester: Yes. The very best situation in marriage would be to help the other get realization. Marry o n l y t o h e l p t h e o t h e r o n e f u l l y k n o wG o d t h a t s h o u l d b e t h e b a s i s f o r m a r r i a g e . A n d t h e o t h e r should do the same for you. It should be mutual. Q: It should really be a spiritual state, not a possessive state? Lester: Love is a freeing of one, not a possessing. That would be spiritual. Q: How best could you guide children into the path? L e s t e r : T h e b e s t t h i n g y o u c a n d o i s t o s e t a n e x a m p l e . T h a t s t h e v e r y b e s t w a y t o t e a c h c h i l d r e n b y e x a m p l e . T h e y w a n t t o b e l i k e t h e i r p a r e n t s . S o i t a l w a y s c o m e s b a c k t o : I f y o u w a n t t o h e l p y o u r c h i l d r e n y o u m u s t h e l p y o u r s e l f . T h e n y o u l l f i n d o u t y o u d o n t h a v e t o c o n s c i o u s l y d o a n y t h i n g . J u s t h e l p y o u r s e l f a n d y o u l l s e e t h e mg r o ww i t h y o u . Q : We h a v e t w o c h i l d r e n a n d t h e y r e r e a l l y d i f f e r e n t . T h e y d e s i r e d t o b e o u r c h i l d r e n a n d w e desired them, right? Lester: Yes. We often choose parents who have characteristics similar to ours so that we can have a c o n s t a n t l e s s o n i n f r o n t o f o u r e y e s . T h i s i s w h y w e f i n d p a r e n t s s o d i f f i c u l t s o m e t i m e s . I f t h e r e s a n y t h i n g t h a t I s e e i n y o u t h a t a n n o y s m e , i t s b e c a u s e I h a v e i t i n m e . I f I d i d n t h a v e i t i n m e , I c o u l d n t e v e n s e e i t i n y o u . Because we choose parents who have characteristics similar to ours is one reason why people believe in heredity. (We only inherit our physical appearances). Every child is so different from every other child. Parents know this, that each one is a completely different individual. And if the present environment and heredity had any appreciable effect they would be very similar. Q : At h o u g h t s t r u c k m e t h a t a c h i l d i s b o r n a n a b s o l u t e s t r a n g e r t o t h e p a r e n t s . T h e y d o n t k n o w anything at all about that child. They are a stranger and it is up to you to make them love you. It is the a m o u n t o f l o v e t h a t y o u p o u r o u t t h a t i n d u c e s t h e a m o u n t t h a t t h e y c a n p o u r o u t , i s n t i t ? Lester: Yes, assuming that our memories are cut off and we begin at the beginning of this lifetime. B u t I h a v e t o s a y N o , i f y o u t a k e t h e h i s t o r y b e f o r e t h i s l i f e t i m e . We k e e p r e g r o u p i n g t o g e t h e r . Attachments and aversions to each other keep us coming together lifetime after lifetime. An attachment between two individuals will bring them together again. Or, an aversion will do the same thing because an aversion is a holding on by holding off. Attachment is holding them to you; an a v e r s i o n i s h o l d i n g t h e ma w a y f r o my o u . B u t e i t h e r w a y y o u r e h o l d i n g t h e m . Q: Lester, as a parent, am I loving the flesh or loving the spirit of the children? L e s t e r : Y o u r e b a s i c a l l y l o v i n g y o u r o w n e g o . Q : B e c a u s e t h e y r e p a r t o f m e . Lester: Yes. You did it. You created them. You did that tremendous thing. And you want them to
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be a good example of you. See? Now, if we love our children we free them; we allow them to grow, t o b l o o ma n d c o m e o u t l i k e a f l o w e r d o e s . We d o n t t r y t o f e n c e t h e mi n . We f r e e t h e ma n d g u i d e t h e ma n d l o v e t h e m , u n a t t a c h e d t o t h e m , k n o w i n g t h a t t h e y a r e G o d s b e i n g s . T h e y a r e j u s t a s m u c h G o d a s I a m i s t h e w a y y o u s h o u l d f e e l . A l s o , t h e y a r e g o i n g t o g o t h r o u g h l i f e j u s t t h e w a y t h e y h a v e set it out anyway. But you should strive to free them, to feel non-attached. This is a higher love than a love with attachment. Q: Of course, as you say, you do have to lead them. L e s t e r : G u i d e t h e m . A n d t h e y l l a s k y o u f o r t h e g u i d a n c e i f y o u j u s t f r e e t h e m . B u t t h e y r e s e n t being dominated and dictated to. They resent having to walk the same path you are on, or the same w a y y o u d i d i t w h e n y o u w e r e a c h i l d . T h e y d o n t l i k e t o b e o r d e r e d a r o u n d . B u t t h e y w a n t t o l e a r n . T h e y h a v e a n a t u r a l c u r i o s i t y . T h e y l l a s k y o u . A n d i f y o u c a n s t a r t f r o mt h e b e g i n n i n g b y f r e e i n g them from the first day, what to do and what not to do, they behave like an adult does when he or she is told what to do and what not to do. They resent it. They oppose it. Oppositional patterns are set by t h e t i m e t h e y r e a b l e t o w a l k a r o u n d ; t h e y v e g o t t h i s o p p o s i t i o n a l p a t t e r n w e l l d e v e l o p e d . T h a t s w h a t makes bringing up children so difficult. B e c a u s e o f a l l o u r a t t a c h m e n t w e r e t r y i n g t o s t e e r t h e m , a n d t h e y r e s i s t . We w e r e t r a i n e d t h a t w a y ; we train our children that way and they will train their children that way and it goes on and on. Training could be accomplished without opposition if it starts right. Show them the possibilities, t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s , a n d l e t t h e mm a k e t h e d e c i s i o n s . T h e n t h e y r e w o r k i n g w i t h y o u f r o mt h e b e g i n n i n g a n d t h e y d o n t d e v e l o p o p p o s i t i o n a l h a b i t s . Here are some additional thoughts on marriage and relationships. Reflect on them. Allow them to assist you. *** Families are regrouping of people who have been together before. Strong loves and strong hates bring us together again and again. *** Our attitude toward relatives should be the same as that toward all beings. *** The first place to practice love is at home with the family. We should try to love our family more and more by granting them their right to be the way they are. *** I t s a g r e a t t h i n g f o r s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h t o r e s o l v e r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h p a r e n t s ( e v e n i f t h e y h a v e p a s s e d on). Parents present excellent opportunities for growth if and when we try to resolve our differences u n t i l t h e r e s o n l y l o v e w i t h n o a t t a c h m e n t . *** Family is excellent for bringing up to us all our reactive automatic behavior because there is where we developed most of it.
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*** Giving unselfish love to a child will develop unselfish love in that child this lifetime and will condition the child for a most happy life. *** The main thing that a child wants from us is love, and we cannot fool a child. Children know our f e e l i n g s a n d t h a t i s w h a t t h e y r e a d . We f o o l o u r s e l v e s w i t h w o r d s , b u t w e d o n t f o o l t h e m . *** When children are contrary, it is because they are seeking to get attention from their parents. In early years, this meant survival: If I am approved of by my parents, they will take care of me, and I, the helpless child, will not die. A child tries to be good and to get approval and, if impossible, becomes bad and in that way gets attention. This attention subconsciously implies approval. It becomes an aberrated pattern of behavior. *** If you can get to see your parents the way they really are and then love them the way they are, you would be accomplishing tremendous growth. *** Y o u b e h a v e m o s t a u t o m a t i c a l l y w i t h p a r e n t s . Y o u l l f i n d y o u r p a r e n t a l b e h a v i o r p a t t e r n s a p p l i e d t o the world. You carry on the automatic behavior patterns set up before the age of six for the rest of your life (unless, of course, you change them). N o r m a l i z e y o u r b e h a v i o r w i t h y o u r p a r e n t s a n d f a m i l y . Y o u v e g o t t o s e e y o u r p a r e n t s t h e w a y t h e y are and accept them that way. Nothing should be blamed on your parents. No matter what they do, you should accept responsibility for what you are. *** Total non-reaction to parents is close to realization. *** I t d o e s n t m a t t e r h o ww e a c t a s l o n g a s t h e f e e l i n g w i t h i n i s l o v e . T h e a t t i t u d e i s m o r e i m p o r t a n t than the act. Use this with family. *** If we were capable of selflessly loving, instead of conflict with children, there would be complete harmony. But it is only because we have lost sight of what selfless love is that we are in this difficulty of opposition between parent and child.

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*** Parents want to do wrong and yet want their children to do right. This makes the parent look dishonest in the eyes of the children and disconcerts them, causing rebellious feelings. Ac h i l d w i l l l e a r n n o b e t t e r t h a n t h e p a r e n t s e x a m p l e . *** Our responsibility toward children, because they cannot take care of themselves, is to feed, clothe and guide them until they are old enough to take care of themselves. But after a person is an adult, we s h o u l d l e t g o a n d l e t G o d t a k e c a r e o f t h e m , e v e n t h o u g h t h e y s e e m i n g l y c a n t t a k e c a r e o f t h e m s e l v e s . They need to learn that they, too, are taken care of if they take responsibility for themselves, or better, if they surrender to God. *** The only real difference between children and adults is size and experience. *** Wh e n p a r e n t s s a y d o n t , t h e y a r e i n s t i l l i n g i n h i b i t i o n s . Wh e n p a r e n t s s a y , d o , t h e y a r e i n s t i l l i n g compulsions. Both cause feelings of inability in the child. Children we see as an extension of our ego. We should see them as individuals and extend to them the rights we do to individuals. *** Y o u w a n t t o h e l p y o u r c h i l d h e l p y o u r s e l f . *** Every child is a whole, complete, infinite individual. *** S e e i n g T r u t h d o e s n t b e l o n g t o m a r r i e d p e o p l e o r s i n g l e p e o p l e . I t b e l o n g s t o t h o s e w h o s e e k a n d discover Truth. *** Ma r r i e d p e o p l e c a n g e t R e a l i z a t i o n i f t h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d t o g e t i t . *** The only happy couples are those with an understanding of Truth. They know that their joy is within and not in the other one. ***
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What people are really looking for is love of God. Not knowing this, they look for it in a mate. *** O n c e y o u g e t t h e t a s t e o f G o d , i t s e a s y n o t t o m a r r y . Y o u f e e l n o n e e d f o r a m a t e . B e i n g m a r r i e d to God, you reach satiety. *** I t s a n o b s t a c l e t o h a v e a m a t e . I t s a n a d d e d o b s t a c l e t o h a v e a c h i l d . I t d o e s n t h a v e t o b e ; i t c a n be an aid to growth, if we so use it. *** There is no one married whose unhappiness does not come from looking to the other one for happiness. *** The only ideal marriage is when each marries to help the other grow spiritually. *** The top attainment is to have nothing but love for each parent, each sister, each brother, each child. Resolve this and you will resolve your relationship with the world. ***

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 T h e u n r e a l i z e d p e r s o n s e e s t h e w o r l d a s r u n n i n g h i m , t h e r e a l i z e d p e r s o n s e e s i t a s h i s o w n p r o j e c t i o n a n d t h e r e f o r e h e c a n r u n i t , i t c a n n o t r u n h i m . Lester Levenson
Session 26 WORLDLINESS VS. SPIRITUALITY THE DILEMMA What is the difference between the divine and the Worldly, the spiritual and the material? Is there a difference? Is there a difference between being spiritual and being in the World? There is a tendency for us to separate the two. That is a gross error. There is no difference between the spiritual and the material when we look at it from the viewpoint of Truth. T h e d i f f e r e n c e i s i n o u r o u t l o o k , i n t h e w a y w e s e e t h e w o r l d . I t i s t h e w a y w e l o o k a t i t , t h a t s a l l . We can look at it from the ego point of view, or we can look at it from the Self. A realized person sees the World only as an out-projection of himself; therefore, it really is his creation. And as an outp r o j e c t i o n , i t s l i k e a c i n e m a s c r e e n o u t t h e r e w i t h t h i s w h o l e u n i v e r s e p r o j e c t e d o n i t a n d w h i c h , a t will, could be changed or withdrawn. To the one who does not see the Truth, this cinema, this moving picture, seems not self-created and as such, one makes himself subject to it and becomes a slave to it. A Master is very much in the World. A Master has His feet firmly planted on the Earth, but He sees the basic substance just behind the apparent World as His very own Self. And when He does that, everything is in harmony, everything is perfect.

SEEING THE TRUTH It is not a matter of separating one from the other, or having one or the other, it is merely seeing the truth of the world. When one does, one is realized. When one does not, one is forever shadow boxing with his self-created world of opposition. Both see the world. The Master sees the Truth just behind it and there is nothing but harmony! The unrealized one sees separation and opposition and there is much disharmony! The unrealized person sees the world as a thing running him; the realized person sees it as his own projection and therefore he can run it and it cannot run him. Being a Master over it, He resides ever the same, in peace and tranquility, and lives in complete ease all the time. We must, in our everyday lives, be in that state of tranquility, and until we can be in that state while i n t h e d e t a i l s o f d a i l y l i v i n g w e h a v e n o t r e a c h e d t h e t o p . S o t h e r e a r e n o t w o c a t e g o r i e s , t h e w o r l d a n d s p i r i t ; i t s a l l o n e a n d t h e s a m e . I t i s j u s t a m a t t e r o f the way we look at it. We should strive to get to the place where no one and no thing can perturb us. When we get to that state, we are at the top. We are in the world and no thing and no one can disturb us in the slightest. Develop this. Make this a practice. Make this your way of life. Do not react to people; do not become angry, jealous, hateful and so forth. Remain ever the same, ever the same; no matter what happens, no matter what goes on, you really are ever the same, serene and poised.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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Q: But Lester, when I look at the world, I see differentiation? L e s t e r : A n y t i m e w e s e e a n y d i f f e r e n c e , o r a d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e s p i r i t u a l a n d t h e w o r l d l y , i t s b e c a u s e w e d o n t h a v e e n o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e s p i r i t u a l a s y e t . We a r e s e p a r a t i n g . T h e h i g h e s t state is when we are in the world and in the spirit at one and the same time and there is no difference. Wh e n w e r e t h e r e , w e d o n t s e e i t a s w o r l d a n d s p i r i t . We s e e i t a s o n e a n d t h e s a m e t h i n g ; w e s e e a oneness; we see it all as our very own Self; or, if we want, we see the whole world as being within us, as a dream is within us in sleep. No matter what happens in the dream, we remain the same. We see a b s o l u t e l y n o d i f f e r e n c e i n a n y t h i n g ; t h e r e s a s i n g u l a r o n e n e s s t h r o u g h o u t e v e r y t h i n g . N o t h i n g changes. Ever-the-same is our feeling. This can be used as a yardstick to know how far we are on the path. Is everything ever the same? Do things really not change? It is a little shocking when we start examining it from this point of view. How far am I on the path toward seeing the sameness, the Oneness, the no-otherness, the nothing but God, God in all, the God in everyone? Wh e n y o u a c c o m p l i s h t h a t n o n d u a l i t y , y o u l o s e t h e f e e l i n g o f s e p a r a t i o n o f I . I f y o u w a n t t o r e c o g n i z e t h e a p p a r e n t o t h e r s , y o u u s e t h e w o r d We . B u t m o r e t h a n t h a t , y o u w o u l d r a t h e r t a l k about yourself in third person. That is the feeling a Master has, and He talks that way. Certain Masters w i l l n o t s p e a k o f T h e m s e l v e s b y n a m e ; t h e y l l s p e a k o f T h e m s e l v e s i n t h e t h i r d p e r s o n a s T h e i r disciples do. For instance, if everyone called me what Ken jokingly calls me, I would talk about Father D i v i n e . I n s t e a d o f s a y i n g I , Me , o r L e s t e r , I w o u l d t a l k a b o u t h i m , ( p o i n t i n g t o h i m s e l f ) F a t h e r D i v i n e . T h a t s j u s t t h e w a y y o u f e e l w h e n y o u r e i n t h e s t a t e w h e n a l l i s o n e a n d a l l i s t h e s a m e . Y o u d o n t i d e n t i f y y o u r s e l f w i t h j u s t y o u r b o d y . I v e b e e n e m p h a s i z i n g t h i s p o i n t b e c a u s e q u i t e a f e ww e r e a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s a n d t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e two, the world and spirit, not knowing that in Truth they are one. Q: There is no difference? L e s t e r : R i g h t . I t s o n e a n d t h e s a m e , w h e n y o u s e e i t r i g h t . I f y o u s e e i t t h r o u g h i l l u s i o n , i f y o u s e e i t w r o n g l y , y o u l l s e e s e p a r a t i o n ; y o u l l s e e t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n t h a t t h i s i s s p i r i t u a l a n d t h a t i s w o r l d l y ; that this is divine and that is mundane. Q : T h e Me s a r e o u r e g o ? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h e Me s a r e a c o n d e s c e n s i o n o n t h e p a r t o f a Ma s t e r i n o r d e r t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e a p p a r e n t e g o s . AMa s t e r s e e s n o t h i n g b u t Ma s t e r s ; s p e c k s o f i n f i n i t e l i g h t , a l l l o o k i n g a l i k e blazing effervescent radiant Beings, points of Beingness all being One. This is the way a Master really s e e s e v e r y o n e ; H e d o e s n t s e e p e o p l e t h e w a y w e s e e t h e m . Q: Does He see them as different shades or all one shade? Lester: Identical points of light, of one ocean of light, brilliant, effervescent, emanating, with center e v e r y w h e r e a n d c i r c u m f e r e n c e n o w h e r e . A r e y o u t r y i n g t o i m a g i n e w h a t i t s l i k e ? Q : We l l , I h a d a n e x p e r i e n c e o f s e e i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h a t a n d i t s a l i g h t l i k e a b u r n i n g s u n . Lester: Yes. A bright blazing sun. Masters can see nothing but a Master in us, and at the same t i m e , t h e y c a n g o t h r o u g h t h e p r e t e n s e o f s e e i n g i t o t h e r w i s e b y s a y i n g , H a r r y , y e s , y o u d o h a v e p r o b l e m s . o r H a r r y , y o u d o h a v e a b o d y a n d y o u d o l i v e i n a h o u s e . B u t a s t h e y s a y i t , i t s l i k e a d r e a mv o i c e t a l k i n g , o r a p p a r e n t l y t a l k i n g . F o r i t s a l l a n a p p a r e n c y . I t s a p r e t e n s e t h e y r e a c t u a l l y pretending as their view of the omnipresent, infinite One never changes. Q : T h e y a r e p r e t e n d i n g a d u a l i t y , t h e n , a c t u a l l y , w h e r e w e r e m o r e o r l e s s l i v i n g i t ? L e s t e r : Y e s . H o w e v e r , w e r e p r e t e n d i n g i t t o o , b u t w e d o n t k n o wt h a t w e r e p r e t e n d i n g i t . A
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Ma s t e r p r e t e n d s i t a n d h e k n o w s t h a t h e s p r e t e n d i n g i t . B u t w e a r e i g n o r a n t o f o u r p r e t e n s e . Q : I n t h a t w a y , H e s c o m i n g d o w n t o o u r l e v e l ? Lester: Yes. And He does it only to help us. Q : We l l , w h y c a n t I a s a h u m a n b e i n g s a y , I w i l l p l a y a g a m e o f b a s e b a l l ? Wh e n I s a y I ma b a s e b a l l p l a y e r , I c a n m a k e m y s e l f s u b j e c t t o a l l t h e r u l e s . B u t I d o n t h a v e t o p l a y b a s e b a l l . S o , w h y c a n t G o d s a y , I w i l l p l a y t h e g a m e o f b e i n g B o b ? A n d t h e n H e p u t s H i m s e l f s u b j e c t t o t h e limitations of Bob as He defines it, as when I play baseball, I make myself subject to the rules. Now, w h y c a n t G o d , t o e n t e r t a i n H i m s e l f , b e a B o b ?O r b e a L e s t e r ?A n d b e l i m i t e d i n a s e n s e t h e t h i n g is, if I play baseball, I limit myself to all the rules of being a baseball player. Well then, I will play baseball and have a good time and be Bob. L e s t e r : G o d c a n a n d d o e s b u t n e v e r f o r g e t s H e i s G o d !D o y o u e v e r f o r g e t ? Q: Therefore, I am God who is playing Bob and for the moment I forgot? L e s t e r : Y o u o n l y a r e i f y o u k n o wt h a t , n o t i f y o u s t a t e i t . G i v i n g i t l i p s e r v i c e d o e s n t e q u a t e w i t h knowing that. Q: I see. L e s t e r : S o t h e o r e t i c a l l y , y o u a r e r i g h t . N o w , t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t o c a r r y i t o u t p r a c t i c a l l y t o know your Beingness in God while you are playing the game, to know that you are God and that you are pretending to be limited as a body and so forth. Q : A n d a n y t i m e I d o n t w a n t t o , I d o n t h a v e t o p l a y , a n d I d o n t h a v e t o t a k e t h a t p a r t i c u l a r s t e p o f b e i n g l i m i t e d b e c a u s e I a mt h e c r e a t o r o f t h e g a m e ; I m a k e t h e r u l e s a n d I d o n t h a v e t o p l a y a n y m o r e than I have to play a baseball game. I can quit just like that! (finger snap) L e s t e r : T h a t s t h e w a y i t i s . A l l r i g h t n o w , w h e n y o u d o n t r e a l l y k n o wt h a t y o u a r e G o d , y o u c a n d i s c o v e r i t b y t r a c i n g t h e s o u r c e o f Me . I f w e t r a c e t h e s o u r c e o f t h e e g o Me , w e l l d i s c o v e r i t s t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g . I f y o u l l t r a c e t h e s o u r c e o f t h e m i n d , y o u l l d i s c o v e r t h e s a m e t h i n g . T h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g i s p u t t i n g t h i s p r e t e n s e o f l i m i t a t i o n , e g o a n d m i n d , o v e r I t s e l f , s o t h a t w e d o n t s e e t h i s s t a t e m e n t o f T r u t h : t h a t t h i s w o r l d i s o n l y G o d p l a y i n g a g a m e o f a p p a r e n t l i m i t a t i o n . T h e w a y t o d i s c o v e r i t i s t o s e e k t h e s o u r c e o f t h e e g o Me , a n d i f w e s t a y w i t h i t , w e l l d i s c o v e r t h a t i t i s r e a l l y the Infinite I, that I am. Q : We l l , a c c o r d i n g t o y o u r b o o k , a n d l e t m e u s e B o b s w o r d s , i f I p l a y t h e g a m e o f b a l l l o o k i n g u p t o G o d , t h e n I d o n t h a v e i t m a d e . I f I d o a n y t h i n g a t a l l l o o k i n g o u t f r o mG o d , t h e n I k n o ww h o I a m . B u t i f I p l a y t h e g a m e l o o k i n g u p t o G o d , f r o mt h e o u t s i d e , t h e n I d o n t k n o w . Lester: You are right. Translating that into Christ, if I look up to Christ, or believe in Christ, that i s n t i t ; I h a v e t o l o o k o u t t h r o u g h t h e e y e s o f a C h r i s t ; I h a v e t o b e l i e v e a s C h r i s t b e l i e v e d ; I h a v e t o b e as a Christ. Q : I t s i n y o u r b o o k . I r e a d i t i n t h e G i t a t h i s m o r n i n g , a n d a l s o i n y o u r b o o k , s o y o u g e t y o u r s t u f f from a good source. Lester: In the beginning of the book, there is a disclaimer stating that the knowledge is not mine. It i s T r u t h , b u t I c a n t m a k e i t a n d I c a n t u n m a k e i t . I c a n o n l y r e c o g n i z e i t o r n o t r e c o g n i z e i t . T h a t s t h e c h o i c e t h a t w e h a v e t o r e c o g n i z e t h e T r u t h o r n o t t o . We c a n t m a k e i t ; w e c a n t d o a n y t h i n g t o it; but we can recognize it.

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Q: All the books that I read say the same thing; Patanjali says it, Yogananda says it, the Gita says it and the Vedas say it; they all say it. Lester: Yes, they said it a thousand years ago, a million years ago, a billion years ago, a billion, b i l l i o n y e a r s a g o , a n d i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e y l l s a y t h e s a m e t h i n g . B e c a u s e T r u t h i s t h a t w h i c h n e v e r changes; It is changeless. The basic Truth will never ever change in all eternity and you can know this for the entire universe. If somebody comes from a planet billions and billions of light-years away and t e l l s y o u o t h e r w i s e , n o m a t t e r h o wh i g h h e l o o k s , a c t s a n d t a l k s , i f i t d o e s n t f i t i n w i t h w h a t y o u k n o w o f t h e c h a n g e l e s s T r u t h , y o u c a n b e s u r e h e s w r o n g , e v e n t h o u g h h e s a c t i n g a n d l o o k i n g l i k e a g o d . D o y o u k n o ww h a t I ms a y i n g ?E v e n i f a n a n g e l t e l l s y o u s o m e t h i n g , i f i t s n o t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h Truth, reject it, because there are so many high appearing beings that look like gods that you can be v e r y e a s i l y f o o l e d u n t i l y o u k n o wt h e T r u t h . T r u t h i s t h e s a m e t h r o u g h o u t f r o mi n f i n i t y t o i n f i n i t y . Q : We r e t r y i n g t o g e t a h e a d a s q u i c k l y a s w e c a n , a n d w e l i s t e n a n d r e a d a n d w e t h i n k t h e r i g h t t h i n g t o d o i s t o b e o n t h e p a t h , b u t I g o t o c h u r c h a n d I s e e a p r i e s t , a m o n k , u p t h e r e a n d h e s b e e n struggling on the path for twenty years. How can I make it quickly when I see in front of me someone w h o h a s b e e n o n t h e p a t h m u c h l o n g e r a n d h e s s t r u g g l i n g ? Lester: Look at it this way. If you want to go from Los Angeles to New York City and the direct route is not known to you, you start probing; you might go up to Washington State first, then cut eastward, then come down to Nevada, then go up to Montana. However, if you know the direct route, you take the direct way and get there much sooner. Probing may take you a whole lifetime. Going d i r e c t l y , y o u c o u l d d o i t i n t h r e e o r f o u r d a y s t i m e . Q : D o n t s a y a n o t h e r w o r d t o m e , b e c a u s e I g o t t h e a n s w e r . L e s t e r : A l l r i g h t . N o wt h e p r i e s t o r m o n k d o e s n t s e e t h e d i r e c t r o u t e a n d h e s p r o b i n g a n d h e s l e a r n i n g b i t b y b i t . H e l l g e t t o N e wY o r k e v e n t u a l l y i f h e k e e p s t r y i n g a n d w a n d e r i n g a l l o v e r t h e United States. Q : B u t d o e s n t e a c h o f u s h a v e d i f f e r e n t a b i l i t i e s ?O n e p e r s o n g e t s o v e r s o m e t h i n g v e r y e a s i l y , v e r y q u i c k l y , a n d s o m e o n e e l s e h a s a p r o b l e mt h a t s d e e p s e e d e d a n d i t s b e e n w i t h h i ma l o n g w h i l e , which takes a very active struggle to get over it? Lester: Yes. However, quickness of realization is determined by the intensity of the desire for it. H o wf a r h a v e w e g o n e i n o u r d e s i r e f o r i t ?I f w e v e g o n e v e r y f a r , t h e r e a l i z a t i o n s c o m e f a s t a n d easily. Q: And we stick by them then? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h e y r e a l l y s t i c k w i t h y o u . I s a y t o y o u : I mn o t t e a c h i n g y o u . Y o u r e g e t t i n g s o m e t h i n g y o u v e k n o w n ; y o u a r e d o i n g i t ; y o u r e j u s t r e r e m e m b e r i n g t h i n g s y o u v e a l w a y s k n o w n . I c a n t g i v e y o u t h i s k n o w l e d g e ; n o o n e c a n . I j u s t s u g g e s t a n d y o u o p e n y o u r s e l f u p t o t h a t w h i c h y o u already know, have always known and always will know, subconsciously. Q: In other words, you just read a page of your true Self. Q : We l l , i t s S e l f r e a l i z a t i o n , a c t u a l l y . L e s t e r : Y e s , a n d t h i s i s a l s o t r u e : I f y o u h a v e n t g r o w n m u c h , o r a s m u c h a s s o m e o n e e l s e , y o u c a n go way beyond that one if you have a very strong desire for it. Only a very strong desire for full realization will give it to you this lifetime. Anyone who has only a desire for Truth will get full realization quickly. You can override your past conditioning when you want to. How long should it take an infinite omniscient Being to know that he is omniscient, omnipotent and
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omnipresent? How long should it take him to do that? Q: One realization. L e s t e r : Wh e n m a n s o w i l l s , h e s i m m e d i a t e l y s e t f r e e t o t a l l y ! S o , r e a l l y w h a t t h i s g r o w i n g t u r n s o u t t o b e i s t h a t w e p l a y w i t h t h e p a t h a s w e r e d o i n g n o w , g e t t i n g m o r e a n d m o r e r e a l i z a t i o n s a n d t h e n o n e d a y w e s a y , O h , m y g o s h , l o o k a t t h i s t r e m e n d o u s t h i n g I v e a l w a y s b e e n !Wh a t s i l l y p l a y i n g a r o u n d I v e b e e n d o i n g !T h e h e c k w i t h i t ! A n d b o o m !I t s finished! Q : A n d a t t h a t m o m e n t y o u r e l o o k i n g o u t f r o mG o d ! Lester: Yes. You are looking out from God and seeing the whole thing, seeing the silly dream you have been going through of playing the game of limitation, and you just drop it, lock, stock and barrel! ***

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 T h e m o r e w e d e v e l o p l o v e , t h e m o r e w e c o m e i n t o u c h w i t h t h e h a r m o n y o f t h e universe and then our life becomes more beautiful, more bountiful and more d e l i g h t f u l . Lester Levenson
Session 27 ABOUT LOVE THE MISUNDERSTANDING Love is one word I do not often use, primarily because it is so misunderstood. Defining it, we normally add more words to the usual words, and these words do not really convey the meaning for only through growth do we understand what love is. But love is an absolutely necessary ingredient on the path. If we ever expect to get full realization, we must increase our love until it is complete. Now the love I talk about has little or nothing to do with sex. Sex is a body gratification. However, most of us confuse it and tie it in with love. When you see what sex is and what love is, you will see that they are two different things. They can be tied together and also they do not have to be. The love that I talk about is the love of Jesus Christ. It is complete love which expressed in the e x t r e m e i s : L o v e t h y e n e m y . I t h i n k t h e b e s t d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e w o r d i s : L o v e i s a f e e l i n g n e s s o f g i v i n g n e s s w i t h n o e x p e c t a t i o n o f r e c e i v i n g f o r t h e g i v i n g . I t i s a v e r y f r e e g i v i n g . A n d i t i s a n attitude that is constant. Love does not vary, not the type of love we are talking about. The amount we have, we apply to everyone. We love our family as much as we love strangers. This might sound odd, but this is the truth. To the degree we are capable of loving strangers, to that degree we are capable of loving our family. The concept of possession is just the opposite of the meaning of love. In love, there is never a holding onto, a fencing in, or anything like that. Love has a sense of freeing the ones we love. When we are giving in our attitude, we want the other one to have what the other one wants. I guess the best example of this type of love is the love of a mother for a child. A mother will sacrifice and give everything to the child without considering herself.

OTHER DEFINITIONS There are other definitions for love. I think acceptance is a good one. When we love people, we accept them as they are. If we love this world, we accept the world the way it is. We do not try to change it. We let it be. We grant the world its beingness the same way we should grant every other person his or her beingness. Let them be the way they want to be; never try to change them. Trying to change them is injecting our own ego. We want them to be the way we would like them to be. Identity is another definition. Love is a feeling of oneness with, of identity with, the other one or all other ones. When there is a full love, you feel yourself as the other person, and you treat the other person just like you treat your own self. There is complete identity. A constant state of gratitude accompanies a state of complete love. We are thankful for everything. We even thank God for the bad as well as for the good. To understand this requires reaching the state of high love. Only then does thanking God for the bad have any meaning to us. The practical aspect of this is that the more we practice being in a state of gratitude, the more loving we become. Try this and
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learn the truth of it. Love is not only a feeling, love is a tremendous power. This is so little understood in the world. We had an example of this type of love by Martin Luther King. No matter how much he was attacked, he gave out nothing but love to his attacker. He taught non-violence. Perhaps the greatest d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f t h i s t y p e o f l o v e w a s Ma h a t m a G a n d h i s w i n n i n g a w a r a g a i n s t B r i t a i n . H e d i d t h i s w i t h o u t a n y a r m s a n d t h r o u g h h i s t e a c h i n g : T h e B r i t i s h a r e o u r b r o t h e r s . We l o v e t h e B r i t i s h . N o n r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e B r i t i s h a n d t o t h e B r i t i s h s o l d i e r s , o n l y l o v e f o r t h e m . Y e s G a n d h i w e l l u n d e r s t o o d this and was able to win over enough followers in India to make this effective.

THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE The power behind love, without question, is far more powerful that the hydrogen bomb. That is, once you know what love is, Love is the most powerful force in the universe. When expressed as love really is, not as we have been taught to think of it, it is extraordinary. I t i s s a i d t h a t G o d i s l o v e , a n d I a d d , O n e w i t h G o d m a k e s a m a j o r i t y . O n e i n d i v i d u a l , w i t h nothing but love, can stand up against the entire world because this love is that powerful. Love is nothing but the Self that we speak of. Love is God. When we are only love we are God. To quote the B i b l e , G o d i s l o v e . G o d i s a l l p o w e r f u l . S o t h e r e s s o m e a u t h o r i t y f o r w h a t I a ms a y i n g b e s i d e s m y saying it. Love will give not only all the power in the universe, but also all the joy and all the knowledge. Now, how do we make this practical? The best way of increasing our capacity to love is through wisdom and understanding. Also, we can do things in our every day life that will increase our love. The first place to practice love is at home, with the family. We should try to love our family more and more and more. I think everyone knows the wonderful experience of love, of loving one person. Can you imagine what it would be like if you loved three billion people? It would be three billion times more enjoyable! Home is the first place to keep trying to increase our love for the ones around us, by g r a n t i n g t h e mt h e i r b e i n g n e s s . T h a t s t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t t h i n g , I b e l i e v e , t o d o i n a f a m i l y , e s p e c i a l l y i f the other one is a child. But every child is a whole, complete, infinite individual, and a child of God. Next, after loving the ones in our home, we should try to love our neighbors, then our larger group, our state, our country. Then we should try to love all people all over the world.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: The Russians? Lester: Even Russians. Q: The Chinese, too? L e s t e r : I h e a r d O r a l R o b e r t s s a y s o m e t h i n g o n t h a t s o m e t i m e a g o . H e s a i d , P e o p l e a s k , Wh a t w o u l d t h e a t t i t u d e o f J e s u s b e t o w a r d t h e c o m m u n i s t s i f H e c a m e b a c k t o d a y ? A n d h e a n s w e r e d , H e w o u l d n t b e t h e w a y p e o p l e e x p e c t . H e w o u l d n t h a v e a n y t h i n g a g a i n s t a n y o n e . H e w o u l d n o t h a t e t h e communists. He would talk against doing wrong, doing evil, but He would never say anything against a n y h u m a n b e i n g . I believe that if we understood the power of love, and that if the majority of Americans loved the Russians, and the Chinese etc., the world would be won over by the Americans without any arms. After we learn to love all the people in this world, there are many more people outside of this world. I think loving all the people in this world would allow us to meet with our brothers and sisters of other
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worlds, because in this universe there are many, many mansions; many, many places of abode. And because of our inability to love on this planet, we have cut them off. So, to come back to the point of being practical: The more we develop love, the more we come in touch with the harmony of the universe, and then our life becomes more beautiful, more bountiful and more delightful. It starts a cycle going where you spin upwards. Love begets love! Love falls in love with love! There is another thing. If we want to be loved, the way to get it is to love. It is not only the very best method, but it is, I think, the only method. To receive love we must love because what we give out must come back. Looking for love without loving does not bring love to us, does not satisfy us. T h i s i s a b a s i c e r r o r i n m a n y , m a n y p e o p l e s t h i n k i n g . T h e y g o t h r o u g h l i f e w a n t i n g t o b e l o v e d , n e v e r feeling that they are even when they are really getting the love. The feeling has to be in us. If I love y o u , I f e e l w o n d e r f u l . I f y o u l o v e m e , y o u f e e l w o n d e r f u l . I t s t h e o n e w h o l o v e s w h o f e e l s g r e a t . S o wanting to be loved is getting into a direction that can never be satisfied. The happy one is the one l o v i n g , t h e o n e g i v i n g . B l e s s e d i s t h e g i v e r b e c a u s e h e s s o m u c h h a p p i e r . Love should be felt equally for all. When we say we love one person more than another, if we would trace it through by going inwardly, we would find that the one we love more is a person whom we think we need, who has something that we would like to have, and therefore, we say we love that person more. This is propitiation in the guise of love. Actually, love cannot be chopped up. If you want to test your own state of love, look at your e n e m i e s . T h i s i s t h e r e a l t e s t . O r , i f y o u d o n t w a n t t o g o t h a t f a r , l o o k a t s t r a n g e r s . E x a m i n e y o u r attitude toward strangers. It should be one of: they are me; they are my family; every mother is my mother; every father is my father; every child is my child. This is the attitude we achieve through understanding. This is the real sense of the word love. Q : L e s t e r , i t s e e m s t o m e y o u r e t a l k i n g a b o u t l o v e a s g i v i n g , g i v i n g o f y o u r s e l f a n d s o f o r t h , a n d yet the conflict that I have occasionally is that it seems that as you give of yourself, people tend to take m o r e a n d m o r e . A n d e v e n t u a l l y , i f y o u d o n t p u t a s t o p t o i t , t h e y b l e e d y o u d r y , e m o t i o n a l l y , mentally, financially, and they use you as a crutch. L e s t e r : T h a t s i m p o s s i b l e . We f e e l r e a l l o v e . I f w e h a v e t h e c o r r e c t a t t i t u d e o f l o v e , t h a t d o e s n t h a p p e n . Wh a t y o u r e s a y i n g I o f t e n h e a r . Wh a t i s n e e d e d i s f o r u s t o k n o ww h a t r e a l l o v e i s . T h e givingness is an attitude. We can always maintain an attitude of love. Most people who give are not g i v i n g l o v i n g l y . T h e y r e g i v i n g b e c a u s e o f t h e r e c o g n i t i o n t h e y t h i n k t h e y w i l l g e t f o r g i v i n g : L o o k a t m e ; I md o i n g g o o d , o r I m a y g e t m y n a m e i n t h e p a p e r , o r s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h a t . Y o u s e e , t h a t k i n d o f l o v e w i l l g e t u s i n t o t r o u b l e . P e o p l e w i l l d r a i n o t h e r s o n t h a t , b e c a u s e t h e y r e l o o k i n g f o r s o m e t h i n g i n r e t u r n . We r e l o o k i n g t o a d v a n c e b u t t h e y p u l l u s d o w n . Q : D o n t y o u t h i n k i t s e a s i e r t o l o v e s o m e b o d y f i v e t h o u s a n d m i l e s a w a y t h a n s o m e b o d y n e x t d o o r to you? Lester: The easiest thing in the universe to do is to love everyone. This is what I think. This is w h a t I v e d i s c o v e r e d . O n c e w e l e a r n w h a t l o v e i s , i t i s t h e e a s i e s t t h i n g t o d o . I t t a k e s t r e m e n d o u s e f f o r t n o t t o l o v e e v e r y o n e , a n d y o u s e e t h e e f f o r t b e i n g e x p e n d e d e v e r y d a y . B u t w h e n w e l o v e , w e r e a t o n e w i t h t h e m ; w e r e a t p e a c e , a n d e v e r y t h i n g f a l l s i n t o l i n e b e a u t i f u l l y . T h e m a i n t h i n g i s t o k n o wl o v e i n t h e s e n s e t h a t I md e f i n i n g i t , t h e n t h o s e t h i n g s d o n t h a p p e n . B u t w h e n w e l o v e i n t h e s e n s e t h a t h u m a n i t y u n d e r s t a n d s t h e w o r d , t h e n y o u r e r i g h t . B u t I d o n t c a l l that love. Q: What do you call it? Or do you have a name for it? Lester: Selfishness, actually. We are doing things really to help ourselves.
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A n d y e t i n t h e r e a l l o v e , i n t h e s p i r i t u a l l o v e , t h e r e s n o s e l f a b n e g a t i o n . We d o n t h a v e t o h u r t o u r s e l v e s w h e n w e l o v e e v e r y o n e , a n d w e d o n t . Wh e n w e l o v e , t h e r e s a f e e l i n g o f m u t u a l i t y . T h a t w h i c h i s m u t u a l i s c o r r e c t . I f y o u l o v e , y o u l l h o l d t o t h a t l a w , a n d t h e r e f o r e p e o p l e w o n t t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f y o u . I f y o u a r e l o v i n g , y o u r e a p p l y i n g t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l f o r c e i n t h e u n i v e r s e . B u t i t s t h e l o v e o f a J e s u s C h r i s t I mt a l k i n g a b o u t , n o t t h e e v e r y d a y s e l f i s h l o v e . Practically speaking, if people are trying to hurt you, and you just feel love for them, if they c o n t i n u e , y o u w i l l s e e t h e mh u r t t h e m s e l v e s . I f t h e y c o n t i n u e f u r t h e r , t h e y l l h u r t t h e m s e l v e s m o r e . T h e y w o n t b e a b l e t o o p p o s e y o u a n y m o r e . B u t w e h a v e t o p r a c t i c e t h i s l o v e t h a t I ms p e a k i n g o f , not the love as we have known it. Q : I t s a b a s i c a t t i t u d e . I t s n o t h i n g y o u p h y s i c a l l y o r e v e n m e n t a l l y d o ? L e s t e r : I t s a c o n s t a n t a t t i t u d e t h a t e v o l v e s i n u s w h e n w e d e v e l o p i t . H o w e v e r , w e s h o u l d t r y practicing love, as said before. First, on our family. Grant everyone in the family their own beingness, i f y o u c a n . I f y o u c a n t , k e e p t r y i n g ; k e e p t r y i n g u n t i l y o u c a n . T h e n a p p l y i t t o f r i e n d s , t h e n s t r a n g e r s , t h e n e v e r y o n e . B y d o i n g t h i s , y o u w i l l d e v e l o p i t , a l t h o u g h i t i s n t s o m e t h i n g y o u c a n t u r n o n j u s t l i k e that. Q : I n a w a y , a l l o f u s h a v e i t , b u t i t s j u s t l a y e r e d o v e r b y m a n y a t t i t u d e s ? L e s t e r : Y e s , i t s s m o t h e r e d b y w r o n g a t t i t u d e s . N o wt h i s l o v e I t a l k a b o u t i s o u r b a s i c n a t u r e . I t s a n a t u r a l t h i n g . T h a t i s w h y i t s s o e a s y . T h e o p p o s i t e t a k e s e f f o r t . We m o v e a w a y f r o mo u r n a t u r a l Self and smother it with wrong attitudes. Q : I s n t l o v e a l m o s t l i k e a s e l f i s h n e s s , b e c a u s e w h e n y o u l o v e s o m e b o d y , i t s s u c h a w o n d e r f u l feeling for you? Lester: Well, this is a matter of semantics. The way you put it, yes, but not in the general sense. Q : I k n o ww h e n I l o v e s o m e b o d y , I f e e l s o g o o d . I t s s u c h a w o n d e r f u l f e e l i n g . L e s t e r : I t s t r u e a f t e r y o u d i s c o v e r w h a t l o v e i s . I t s t h e g r e a t e s t t h i n g i n t h e u n i v e r s e . I t s t h e t h i n g t h a t e v e r y o n e w a n t s , o n l y b e c a u s e i t s h i s b a s i c n a t u r e i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . E v e r y h u m a n b e i n g i s basically an extremely loving individual. Q: To understand this thing of joy, is it the same type of thing as when your mind becomes stilled in one avenue of thought, of acceptance of the other person, and therefore the mind is stilled? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h e m o r e w e l o v e , t h e l e s s w e h a v e t o t h i n k . I f I mn o t l o v i n g y o u , I h a v e t o b e o n g u a r d . I h a v e t o p r o t e c t m y s e l f . I f I mn o t l o v i n g t h e w o r l d , I ma l w a y s p r o t e c t i n g m y s e l f f r o mt h e world which causes more and more thoughts. It puts me extremely on the defensive, and s u b c o n s c i o u s l y i t b u i l d s u p y e a r i n a n d y e a r o u t , a n d t h e n I ma m a s s o f t h o u g h t s p r o t e c t i n g m y s e l f f r o mt h e w o r l d . N o wi f I l o v e t h e w o r l d , t h e w o r l d c a n t h u r t m e . My t h o u g h t s g e t q u i e t ; t h e m i n d g e t s p e a c e f u l , a n d t h e i n f i n i t e S e l f i s r i g h t t h e r e . A n d t h a t s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h i s t r e m e n d o u s j o y . Q : I n o t h e r w o r d s , i t s n o t t h e o b j e c t , t h a t b r i n g s t h i s o u t . I t s t h e q u i e t i n g o f t h e m i n d t h a t a c t u a l l y l e t s t h e b e i n g n e s s c o m e t h r o u g h a l i t t l e m o r e , a n d t h a t r e a l l y i s t h e l o v e e x p e r i e n c e , i s n t i t ? Lester: Yes. Q: The light shines through! Lester: Yes. What you mean is that we take our infinite Beingness, our infinite joy, and we cover it over with thoughts. We take the natural state which is unlimited, and we cover it up with thoughts of limitation. The thoughts smother this infinite Self that we are. It smothers the capacity to enjoy just
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b e i n g . A n d s o a l l w e n e e d t o d o i s t o q u i e t t h e t h o u g h t s , o r r i d o u r s e l v e s o f a l l t h o u g h t s , a n d w h a t s l e f t o v e r i s t h e i n f i n i t e , g l o r i o u s B e i n g t h a t w e a r e , w h i c h i s o u r n a t u r a l s t a t e . T h a t s t h e w a y w e w e r e , t h a t s t h e w a y w e r e g o i n g t o b e . We a r e a c t u a l l y t h a t n o w , b u t w e d o n t s e e i t . T h i s i n f i n i t e , g l o r i o u s B e i n g t h a t w e a r e , b e i n g a b s o l u t e l y p e r f e c t , c a n n e v e r c h a n g e . I t s a l w a y s t h e r e . We j u s t d o n t l o o k a t it. We look away from it. We look far away from it. What we should do is turn our mind inward, and begin looking at It, and the more we look at It the more we see It. Everything seems to point to the same direction, does it not? That happens as we get more understanding of what life and the universe are. Everything fits together more and more, and gets s i m p l e r a n d s i m p l e r , u n t i l t h e r e s j u s t o n e a b s o l u t e S i m p l e c a l l e d G o d . G o d i s s i m p l e ; e v e r y t h i n g e l s e is complex. The greater the complexity, the further we are from God. God is One and only One; One without a second. Q : I f s o m e o n e e l s e h a s a d e s i r e a n d t h e r e s a f e e l i n g t h a t i f I w e n t a l o n g w i t h h i mt h a t I m i g h t l o s e s o m e t h i n g , t h e n t h a t i s n t l o v e . B u t i f m y l o v e i s c o m p l e t e i n t h e s e n s e o f w h a t e v e r t h e y w i s h I w i s h , t h e n I w o u l d n t b e a f r a i d ? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h e r e s a w o r d f o r i t t o d a y t o g e t h e r n e s s . I t s a v e r y g o o d w o r d . D o e s n t t h a t f i t w h a t y o u r e s a y i n g ?T o g e t h e r n e s s ? Q : T h e t h o u g h t o c c u r r e d t o m e t h a t w h e n I k n o wm y b e i n g n e s s , I c a n t g e t h u r t , s o h o wc a n anybody else hurt me? L e s t e r : T h a t s t r u e . I t s i m p o s s i b l e t o b e h u r t w h e n w e l o v e f u l l y . We o n l y f e e l w o n d e r f u l w h e n we love, in fact, we feel the greatest! Q: If you feel a sense of togetherness with one more than another then you begin to separate? L e s t e r : Y e s , i t i s n o t f u l l l o v e . I t s p a r t i a l l o v e , a n d t h e m o r e p a r t i a l i t i s , t h e l e s s g o o d i t f e e l s . When we love fully, we love every being. We have nothing but a tremendously wonderful, warm a t t i t u d e o f : e v e r y t h i n g i s f i n e ; e v e r y p e r s o n i s j u s t r i g h t . We s e e o n l y p e r f e c t i o n , a n d t h a t s t h e w a y w e see the world. When we hate, we see the same world in just the opposite way. Q: When you speak of giving, are you speaking of giving things or spiritual understanding? Lester: Love is an attitude of givingness. When things are given with this attitude, it is love. If I give you something because I want you to like me, that is not love; that is trying to bolster my ego. The greatest givingness is giving understanding, giving wisdom. If I give a meal to a man in poverty, four hours later he needs another meal again. However, if I give him the principle of how to produce a meal, he will never go hungry again. Let me end with a quote: L o v e i s p a t i e n t a n d k i n d . L o v e i s n o t j e a l o u s o r b o a s t f u l . I t i s n o t a r r o g a n t o r r u d e . L o v e d o e s n o t insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the r i g h t . L o v e b e a r s a l l t h i n g s , b e l i e v e s a l l t h i n g s , h o p e s a l l t h i n g s , e n d u r e s a l l t h i n g s . ***

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 K a r m a c o m e s t o a n e n d w h e n o n e r e a l i z e s i t a s a l l i n t h e m i n d a n d o n e i s n o t o n e s m i n d . Lester Levenson
Session 28 KARMA A TRIED METHOD Our method is one of question and answer. The reason why I use questions and answers is that I find it to be one of the very best methods of discovering Truth. The most effective teaching is individual teaching, rather than group or mass teaching. For the knowledge or Truth we are after cannot be picked up intellectually. It cannot be gotten from books. Were it possible to get it from b o o k s , w e w o u l d a l l h a v e i t f o r w e c e r t a i n l y h a v e b o o k s . Instead, I find that the only really effective teaching is accomplished when the teacher gets the pupil to experience the answer. Only when one experiences the answer can one really understand. This experiencing is also called realizing. So, do you have a question? QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q : I d l i k e t o k n o wa l i t t l e m o r e a b o u t h o wk a r m a w o r k s a n d w h y i t w o r k s . I d l i k e t o k n o ww h a t p u t s i t i n t o e f f e c t ; w h a t s t a r t s t h e w h e e l . I n y o u r b o o k , y o u m e n t i o n t h a t i t s t h e t h o u g h t . L e s t e r : T h e w o r d k a r m a i s a S a n s k r i t w o r d m e a n i n g a c t i o n . I t s g e n e r a l u s e m e a n s a c t i o n a n d t h e reaction to the action. Other explanations are cause and effect; what you sow you reap; what you give out comes back to you. Karma is initiated in thought. Thought is the cause. Action is the effect. When we create a desire, the desire initiates the thought of wanting something. Wanting something then causes us to act to get that something. When we get that something, it often does not satisfy us and therefore we increase the desire. This process goes on and on and on, until we become bound by desire. Since we can never s a t i s f y i t , i t s u n c o n s c i o u s . I f o u r d e s i r e s w e r e c a p a b l e o f b e i n g s a t i s f i e d , w e w o u l d h a v e n o d e s i r e s , right? Q: Would you say that again? Lester: If our desires were capable of being satiated or satisfied, we would soon fulfill all of our desires. They would soon be satisfied and we would have no more of them! Q: Which is the state we should attain? Lester: Yes. We should attain the state of no desire, of no longing. Then we are happy always. Q: I understood you to say that karma is a law of action and reaction and could be used, not in the sense of punishment for a wrong deed, but as a reward for a good one. L e s t e r : C r e a t i n g t h i n g s w e d o n t l i k e w e c a l l p u n i s h m e n t . C r e a t i n g t h i n g s w e d o l i k e w e c a l l r e w a r d . C r e a t i o n i s i n i t i a t e d i n t h e m i n d . T h e m i n d d o e s n t k n o wg o o d o r b a d ; i t j u s t c r e a t e s . Wh e n w e c r e a t e t h i n g s t h a t a r e d i s t a s t e f u l t o u s , ( a n d w e d o n t t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e c r e a t i o n , ) w e s a y
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w e r e b e i n g p u n i s h e d . L e t m e g e t b a c k t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h a t k a r m a i s . T o e v e r y a c t i o n t h e r e s a n o p p o s i t e a n d e q u a l r e a c t i o n . I t s c a l l e d t h e l a wo f c o m p e n s a t i o n . I t i s i n i t i a t e d i n t h e m i n d . E v e r y t h o u g h t w e h a v e creates a vacuum. The pace at which nature fulfills it is also determined by our thought. And every thought is initiated by a previous desire. Since a desire is not real but is an assumed lack, an assumed agony of need, it can never be satisfied and it actually becomes stronger the more we try to satisfy it. The only way we can be happy is to let go of all desires. Then we become perfectly content. Q : S o i t t a k e s t h e t w o ; t h e t h o u g h t a l o n e w i t h o u t d e s i r e w o n t d o i t ? Lester: Without a desire, would you have a thought? Q: I guess not. L e s t e r : C o r r e c t . Y o u w o u l d n t h a v e a n y t h o u g h t s w i t h o u t d e s i r e . Q : We l l , t h e r e a r e i n t e l l e c t u a l d e s i r e s , a r e n t t h e r e ? Lester: Yes, but they are desires. Otherwise, there would be no thought. You desire to be heard; you desire to communicate with people. It might not be a desire for ice cream, food, for things that the body needs, but it might be a desire for approval. So, desire initiates a whole cycle. Way back in the beginning, it started with a thought of lack. Then there was a desire to fulfill the lack. The desire caused more thought. The thought caused action. Since the action does not fulfill the desire, we increase the desire and action, keeping it going u n t i l w e a r e a p a t h e t i c a l l y s p i n n i n g i n a n e n d l e s s c y c l e w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n i m p o s s i b l e . All our present thinking is initiated by something from the past. Our total feelings now are all from the thoughts and actions of the past. So, all thinking is now motivated by something that has already h a p p e n e d . A c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n g o o n a n d o n t h a t w a y a n d w e a r e c a u g h t . I t s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e t o have an original thought any more since every thought is based on past thoughts. Q: So then, it started way back when? L e s t e r : I t s b e g i n n i n g l e s s a n d i t s e n d l e s s . I l l t a k e y o u a s t e p h i g h e r . L e t u s l o o k a t t h e e x a m p l e o f t h e r o p e b e i n g m i s t a k e n f o r a s n a k e . Y o u r e w a l k i n g a l o n g t h e r o a d ; t h e r e s a r o p e o n t h e g r o u n d a n d y o u t h i n k i t s a s n a k e . K a r m a i s i n t h e r e a l mo f t h e i l l u s o r y s n a k e . Wh e n d i d t h a t s n a k e b e g i n a n d w h e n w i l l t h a t s n a k e e n d s o l o n g a s y o u t h i n k i t s a s n a k e ?I t s b e g i n n i n g l e s s a n d i t s e n d l e s s , because in reality it never was; it was always a rope. If you are in karma, it is a forever thing. If you are not in it, it never was. Does that make sense? Karma is beginningless and endless. H e n c e , i t s i m p o s s i b l e t o w o r k o u t k a r m a . S o m e s c h o o l s o f m e t a p h y s i c s t e a c h t h a t y o u m u s t w o r k o u t y o u r k a r m a . Wh i l e y o u r e t r y i n g t o w o r k i t o u t , y o u a r e c r e a t i n g n e wk a r m a f o r t h e f u t u r e . S o , i t s impossible to work it out. We l l , w h a t c a n w e d o ?O n l y o n e t h i n g a w a k e f r o mt h e i l l u s i o n a n d s e e t h e T r u t h !S e e t h e s n a k e a s t h e r o p e !O n c e t h e r o p e i s s e e n a s t h e r e a l , t h e s n a k e i s n t . Wh e n w e s e e t h e T r u t h o f o u r B e i n g , a l l this action and reaction turns out to be a dream-illusion and therefore, as such, cannot touch us any more. Q : D i d n t y o u s a y w e b e c o m e t h e o b s e r v e r ?I u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e c y c l e s t i l l m u s t b e p e r f o r m e d , regardless of enlightenment, is that correct? L e s t e r : N o . T h a t i s , o n c e y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s f u l l , f r o mt h a t m o m e n t o n , t h e r e s n o m o r e k a r m a . Wh e n I s a y , B e t h e w i t n e s s , t h a t i s s t i l l i n t h e r e a l mo f d u a l i t y , w i t n e s s i n g t h e d u a l i t y , b u t i t s a g i a n t s t e p f o r w a r d . I t s a m e t h o d o f l e t t i n g g o o f t h e e g o s e n s e o f b e i n g t h e d o e r . I t s a m o d e o f b e h a v i o r
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t h a t s v e r y c o n d u c i v e t o g r o w t h . H o w e v e r , w h e n y o u a r e f u l l y r e a l i z e d , y o u l l l o o k a t t h e w o r l d a n d y o u l l s e e o n l y a s i n g u l a r o n e n e s s i n e v e r y t h i n g a n d e v e r y o n e . A n d y o u l l s e e t h a t i t i s n o t h i n g b u t y o u r v e r y o w n S e l f . A n d t h e Self is only the Self. So, what happens to the world is that you see it as it really is; you look at it as the rope instead of seeing it as the snake. Then you are out of karma and there is no more karma. So, from the highest point of view, when you see who and what you are, there is no karma. When y o u s e e y o u r r e a l S e l f , t h e r e s o n l y B e i n g n e s s ; a c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n a r e o n l y a p p a r e n t l y g o i n g o n . Q : L e t s s a y I md r i v i n g o u t o n t o t h e f r e e w a y a n d I s e e a g u y c o m i n g a n d I s t e p o n t h e g a s a n d g e t in front of him. What does this do to me? Is there a reaction coming back from this? L e s t e r : I n t h i s d r e a m w o r l d , t o t h e l a s t o u n c e t h e r e s a c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n . Q: One of the big things with any human, and I know I am no different, are thoughts of sex. This is quite a strong interplay and quite a strong force. How does this all get worked out? L e s t e r : I t s o n e o f t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t t h i n g s t o t r a n s c e n d . H o w e v e r , i t i s p o s s i b l e a n d i t i s r e l a t i v e l y e a s y t o d o i t o n c e y o u r e c o g n i z e t h a t a l l t h a t j o y t h a t y o u r e s e e k i n g t h r o u g h s e x y o u c a n h a v e a l l t h e t i m e , b u t m u c h m o r e s o , o n c e y o u r e o u t o f t h e t r a p o f d e s i r e . T h a t s w h y I s a y , G e t t o t h e h i g h e r p l a c e w h e r e , i n o r d e r t o h a v e s e x , y o u g i v e u p j o y . T h e n i t s a n e a s y t h i n g t o l e t g o o f . Me a n t i m e , moderation is the best guide. H a p p i n e s s i s o n l y y o u r v e r y o w n S e l f ; h a p p i n e s s i s y o u r b a s i c n a t u r e . Y o u d o n t n e e d a n y t h i n g e x t e r n a l t o h a v e i t . B u t y o u t h i n k y o u d o b e c a u s e y o u v e c o v e r e d o v e r t h i s h a p p i n e s s w i t h l a y e r s a n d layers of limitation: I must have this to be happy; I must have that to be happy. And this has been going on for a long time. But the more you see who and what you are, the less desires have a hold on you. Q: You have shown the way or method for me, by which I have realized that there is something greater than sex. I have now realized that sex is actually a giving up of something, giving up of a h i g h e r f e e l i n g f o r a l e s s e r f e e l i n g . I t s m u c h e a s i e r t o u n d e r s t a n d i n t h a t l i g h t . L e s t e r : S e x w i l l k e e p y o u e a r t h b o u n d . I t s n e c e s s a r y t o g e t a b o v e i t . H a v i n g s e x w i l l n o t p r e v e n t you from moving toward realization, but while you are engaged in it, you are a slave to it and can never g e t f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n . Y o u a r e m a k i n g t h e p h y s i c a l t h i n g t h e j o y a n d i t i s n t . T h e r e a l t h i n g i s t h a t y o u are that joy, only a million times more so! As high as the feeling is that you get from sex, you can go way, way beyond that feeling in joy, and have it twenty-four hours a day. And it is this unlimited joy that you are really seeking, but you sacrifice it for sex. Q: When we do things and realize that they should not be done, can we dispose of them by doing the opposite? L e s t e r : We l l , i f y o u r e d o i n g t h e o p p o s i t e , y o u r e i n v o l v e d i n a c t i o n a g a i n , c r e a t i n g t h e o p p o s i t e f o r the future. Q: You just have to be desireless? L e s t e r : Y e s , t h a t s i t !B e i n g d e s i r e l e s s , y o u w i l l s e e w h o a n d w h a t y o u a r e ; y o u l l s e e t h a t y o u r e above all this illusion of karma and then it can touch you no more. Q : Wh e n y o u s e e t h a t , t h e r e l e a s e i s s o t r e m e n d o u s , i t s l i k e a s e x r e l e a s e . L e s t e r : Mu c h g r e a t e r , m u c h g r e a t e r . I l l h a v e t o g e t s o m e t e s t i m o n i a l s f o r y o u . Q: If you drop the desire for some thing, will it still come your way?
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Lester: No. The desire is the cause for it. You can mentally undo karma by mentally undoing desire. Karma is caused by desires that remain in the subconscious mind. Dropping desire drops all thoughts of it. If you take desire out of the subconscious mind, the seeds of karma are no more there. This is the fastest, the very best way of undoing karma. If you want to undo karma, do it mentally. Why experience it again and again and suffer it? If you let go of things mentally, you let go of them f o r e v e r ; t h e n y o u d o n t h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e m . A s J e s u s s a i d , Wh o s o e v e r l o o k e t h o n a w o m a n t o l u s t a f t e r h e r h a t h c o m m i t t e d a d u l t e r y w i t h h e r a l r e a d y . T h e a c t o r i g i n a t e s i n t h e m i n d . E v e r y n e g a t i v e t h o u g h t w e h a v e c r e a t e s k a r m a t h a t w e d o n t l i k e , a n d w e c a l l i t b a d k a r m a . I f p e o p l e o n l y k n e wt h i s !I t d o e s n t m a t t e r w h e t h e r w e c a r r y o u t t h e a c t or not. The seed is sown in the thought. Here are some additional thoughts for you to reflect on about karma. *** Karma sows the seeds of its own destruction. What we go through is determined by what we have gone through. This is the law of compensation or karma. In between physical bodies, we choose a certain part of what we have been through to go through the next time around; we set up similar situations, hoping that this next time we will transcend t h e m . Y o u a l w a y s g e t a n o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y a d i n f i n i t u m . *** Bad karma keeps us so miserable with negativity that we change our bad karma to good karma, and that turns out to be a golden chain instead of an iron chain. Freedom is above karma. *** Whenever we move up, something happens to test us. What actually happens is that we subconsciously feed ourselves more karma because we have become stronger and can face it. *** Karma is nothing but the accumulated past habits of thought that are going on subconsciously. *** Karma is the conglomeration of all the subconscious thoughts running you. Get rid of these thoughts; quiet the mind totally and there is no karma. *** Wh e r e i s k a r m a ?I t s i n t h e w o r l d o f i l l u s i o n . *** Anything karmic is really comic. ***
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Karma is a harmer. It is a bondage maker. *** We hurt ourselves when we judge others because it is karmic and returns to us. *** The fastest way out of karma is to grow. *** Karma and reincarnation are part of the illusion and have no part in Reality. Past lives should not be gone into. It is playing with the unreality, making it seem real. *** Get to accept karma. The idea that you can fight it is contrary to the accepting of it. If you accept it, your fears, frustrations, tensions, miseries etc., are alleviated and you are no more holding onto it by attempting to avert it. Since there is nothing you can do about it, you just let it be. Everything this b o d y i s g o i n g t o g o t h r o u g h , i t w i l l g o t h r o u g h . U n d e r s t a n d t h i s a n d r e m a i n a s y o u r e a l l y a r e f r e e . *** Y o u c a n t c h a n g e w h a t t h e b o d y w i l l g o t h r o u g h . T h a t w a s d e t e r m i n e d b y y o u b y p r i o r a c t i o n . However, you can choose not to be that body, but to be your Self. *** T h e e g o d o e s n t l i k e t o h e a r t h a t i t d o e s n t h a v e f r e e w i l l . B u t t h e e g o i t s e l f i s a p r o d u c t o f k a r m a .

*** If karma is, what does advice mean? *** Examine karma and you will discover that karma and destiny are one and the same. *** Acts performed with no interest in the fruits, thereof, produce no karma. *** If action is being done without attachments and aversion, there is no karma being created.
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*** Once you reach the state of non-attachment, you can enjoy the world and do it without creating any karma. *** It is when we rise above karma, good and bad, that we move into being our real Self. *** How can an infinite Being be subject to karma, karma being an extreme limitation? *** G e t a b o v e k a r m a ; d o n t w o r k o u t k a r m a . *** K a r m a c o m e s t o a n e n d w h e n o n e r e c o g n i z e s t h a t i t i s a l l i n o n e s m i n d a n d o n e i s n o t o n e s m i n d . *** T h e r e s o n e a c t t h a t w i l l d o a w a y w i t h a l l k a r m a b e y o u r S e l f ! *** All actions that the body will perform have already been concluded by you, before it came into existence. The only freedom you have is whether or not to identify yourself with the body and its action. If an actor plays the part of a king or a beggar, he is unaffected by it because he knows he is not that character. In exactly like manner should we carry out our part in the world, and whether we are king or beggar, we should be unaffected by it, knowing that we are not that character but are a grand and glorious being, our very own infinite Self. ***

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 T h e s t a b i l i t y o f o n e s p e a c e i s t h e b e s t m e a s u r i n g s t i c k f o r o n e s g r o w t h . Lester Levenson
Session 29 GROWTH AND RECEPTIVITY HAPPINESS VS. GROWTH H a p p i n e s s i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a n i n d i c a t i o n o f o n e s s t a t e o f r e a l i z a t i o n . A b o r i g i n e s a n d n a t i v e s a r e as happy as we are, and sometimes more so. We who are supposed to be at the upper end of civilization, as a whole, might not be as happy as they are. They enjoy mostly through the physical senses. We enjoy more through the mind and hence in some ways we are capable of more joy. However, because we are capable of more joy we are also capable of more misery. Many of us think that the things we do that give us a state of happiness are giving us spiritual growth and therefore are the right things to do. This could be true and it could also be false. The happiness we get from a new realization is definitely growth. We are delighted in the new revelation because we have become a little freer and therefore permanently a little happier. However, the happiness we get from avoiding or escaping unpleasantries is not growth. In fact rather than furthering our growth, it keeps us bound to the unpleasantries we are avoiding. For until they are faced, looked at, and dropped, they will remain in our subconscious and emerge from time to time until we finally deal with them. Therefore, in order to be undone, unpleasantries must be faced and not avoided. Then no escape is necessary. However, it is also true that the greater our growth the happier we are. We gain an accumulative t o t a l h a p p i n e s s t h a t d o e s n t v a r y f r o md a y t o d a y . I t i s f r e e d o mf r o mt h e c o n s t a n t n a g g i n g o f o u r c o m p u l s i v e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s ; i t s a s e n s e o f w e l l b e i n g n e s s ; i t s a s e n s e o f s e c u r i t y ; i t s a s e n s e of peace. Even when things are outwardly being expressed against us, when the world seems to turn against us, we still feel a greater peace within than we did before. It is that inner state that should be used as a measure of growth. A miserable person can, for the time being, for the moment, be laughing happily. But you cannot use that as an indication of that p e r s o n s c o n s t a n t s t a t e o f f r e e d o m . H o wc a n w e t e l l a p e r s o n s s t a t e o f f r e e d o mo r h a p p i n e s s ?B y c h e c k i n g w h e n e v e r y t h i n g i s a g a i n s t one. Use this as a method for checking yourself. When things go wrong in the world, then check your state of happiness.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: It seems we are inclined to be almost irritated when we see someone else who is happier than we are. L e s t e r : Y e s , i t i s c a l l e d j e a l o u s y a n d w h e n w e s e e s o m e o n e w h o i s h a p p i e r t h a n w e a r e , w e d o n t like it. Sometimes we attack that one indirectly, even if it is our mate. This goes on between couples as they grow. When one moves ahead, the other unconsciously resents it, does things to try to undermine the first one. The motivation is often subconscious. But e v e n i f i t d o e s i t b e c o m e s c o n s c i o u s , w e s o m e t i m e s d o n t u n d e r s t a n d w h y w e r e d o i n g i t . T h e r e a s o n is that whenever two people get together, the higher one automatically tries to lift the lower one up a
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bit and the lower one tries to bring the higher one down a bit; they move toward each other. This is an unconscious behavior that goes on whenever two beings meet. T o c o m e b a c k t o w h a t I w a s s a y i n g b e f o r e , t h e s t a b i l i t y o f o n e s p e a c e i s t h e b e s t m e a s u r i n g s t i c k f o r o n e s g r o w t h . P e a c e u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s n o t i d e a l , p e a c e u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h t h e individual is being tried is a good measure. If you maintain your peace while everything out there is g o i n g a g a i n s t y o u , t h e n y o u r e a l l y h a v e i t . T h i s p e a c e t h a t I mt a l k i n g a b o u t i s t h e r e a l h a p p i n e s s a n d c a n b e m e a s u r e d b y i t s i m p e r t u r b a b i l i t y . I f a p e r s o n c a n n o t b e d i s t u r b e d i n h i s p e a c e , h e s g o t i t !H e has let go of much ego, because only the ego can be disturbed. The Self can never be disturbed. And when we abide as our Self, we allow the whole world to be as it is. So if you want to know your state, check yourself under adverse conditions. Measure your growth b y t h e b o t t o m s , n o t b y t h e t o p s . Y o u l l f i n d t h a t y o u r g r o w t h g o e s i n c y c l e s , u p a n d d o w n . Y o u s h o u l d g e t t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e b o t t o mi s h a p p i n e s s , a n d t h a t m a k e s t h e t o p e v e n h i g h e r a s t a t e o f s e r e n i t y , t r a n q u i l l i t y , b l i s s a l l w i t h a d e e p i m p e r t u r b a b l e p e a c e . Q: Where is this bliss, joy, and peace felt? L e s t e r : P e o p l e f e e l i t i n d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s . A c t u a l l y i t s a t t h e v e r y c e n t e r o f y o u r b e i n g n e s s . Normally we go from a low point at the start, to a very high point at the end. Q: Do you know why? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g I d l i k e t o e x p l a i n t o y o u . Wh y g o d o w n ?We r e s u p p o s e d t o b e intelligent people; we know the ways. Why go down? Somewhat stupid when you know how to be h i g h a n d h a p p y t h e w a y y o u f e e l n o w ; i n f a c t , i t s s t u p i d n o t t o b e t h e w a y y o u a r e n o wa l l t h e t i m e . The reason why you go down is that you have not undone enough of your unconscious thoughts. I direct you toward the infinite being that you are. As you see it, you undo the contrary thoughts and feel freer and higher. But later when you are alone, the remaining unconscious thoughts of limitation reemerge, take over, run you, and you feel lower. What is necessary is that you continue to eliminate the unconscious thoughts until there are no more, until you are totally free. Only then you will be satisfied. I mp o i n t i n g u p n o ww h a t y o u n e e d t o d o t o f u r t h e r y o u r g r o w t h . T h e i n t e l l e c t i s e x c e l l e n t f o r growing and is necessary at the beginning; it sets you in the right direction; it takes you forward. Then you reach a place where it can take you no further. So, what do you do? Do you stop at the top of the i n t e l l e c t , o r d o y o u g o o n ?I ms a y i n g l e t s g o o n !T h i s d o e s n t m e a n l e t g o o f y o u r i n t e l l e c t , f o r g e t i t , o r s u p p r e s s i t . N o , I ms a y i n g g o b e y o n d i t . I ms u g g e s t i n g a n o t h e r g i a n t s t e p f o r w a r d . I mt r y i n g t o g e t y o u t o s e e w h a t t h i s n e x t s t e p i s , b y f i r s t t e l l i n g y o u w h a t i t i s n o t . I t i s n o t i n t e l l e c t u a l . I n t e l l e c t u a l l y t h e r e s n o t h i n g m o r e I c a n g i v e y o u . What is it then? It is becoming aware of your Self by actually experiencing your Self. I could lead y o u m u c h h i g h e r t h a n w e v e e v e r g o n e b e f o r e i f y o u w o u l d d r a wi t o u t o f m e . T h i s w o u l d h e l p y o u t o experience a higher state than you have ever known before. Then the experience would be your knowledge, and after you experience it, it would leave you with a stronger desire for freedom, a stronger incentive to move faster toward the Goal. N o w , I d o n t w a n t t o t a l k i n r i d d l e s o r i n t a n g i b l e s . Wh a t i s i t t h a t w i l l d r a wo u t m o r e t h a n t h e intellect has drawn out so far? It is your state of receptivity. Receptivity determines the amount of the Power that flows into you. Stated another way, it is letting go of your reservations. As you become more receptive, more of the power flows through me into you and lifts you to the place where you experience your Self. I, Lester, do not do it; it flows through me to the degree that you receive it. It can help lift you to a higher state, by experiencing that state, you definitely know it. You better know t h a t , T h o u a r e T h a t .

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Q: How do we do that? Lester: Greater acceptance of the direction coming through me, and of the fact that happiness really lies within you and not without. The direction up to now has been to quiet the mind by looking at, and letting go of subconscious thoughts. As you let go of these thoughts, you become freer, your mind is q u i e t e r , y o u r r e a l S e l f i s l e s s o b s c u r e a n d y o u r e m o r e a b l e t o b e t h e r e a l S e l f t h a t y o u a r e . A l s o , t h e more you have this experience, the more you are capable of being drawn into your Self by the Power flowing through me into you. This could go on to the Ultimate. Y o u h a v e q u i e t e d t h e m i n d t o q u i t e s o m e d e g r e e , b u t t h e r e i s m u c h m o r e t o b e d o n e . T h a t s w h y I a s k , Wh o c a n s i t d o w n a n d i m m e d i a t e l y q u i e t h i s m i n d a n d h a v e n o t h o u g h t s c o m e i n ? I f y o u c a n d o t h a t , y o u r e a Ma s t e r . T o t h e d e g r e e y o u c a n q u i e t y o u r m i n d , t o t h a t d e g r e e y o u a r e a Ma s t e r . B u t e v e r y o n e i s q u i e t e r n o wt h e n t h e y w e r e . O u r n e x t s t e p i s t o g e t e v e n q u i e t e r . A n d I s a y w e r e n o t g o i n g t o g e t i t t h r o u g h i n t e l l e c t u a l i s ma n y m o r e , t h r o u g h b a n d y i n g w o r d s u p a n d b a c k . We r e g o i n g t o get it through a method that directly helps you experience the quietude of your Self. Q: When you quiet your mind and no thought comes in, then what happens? Is it a blank? L e s t e r : N o , i t s n o t a b l a n k ; y o u h a v e n o m i n d t o g o b l a n k !Y o u r e i n t h e r e a l mo f A l l K n o w i n g n e s s ; y o u d o n t h a v e t o t h i n k a n y m o r e ; y o u j u s t k n o we v e r y t h i n g a n d e v e r y t h i n g f a l l s i n t o l i n e p e r f e c t l y e v e r y m o m e n t . Y o u o p e r a t e o n a f e e l i n g n e s s , c a l l e d i n t u i t i o n . E v e r y o n e i n t h i s r o o m has experienced it at times. Mind is nothing but the total bundle of your thoughts; a small part conscious; the major part s u b c o n s c i o u s a n d h e l d o u t o f v i e w . Mi n d i s n o t c o m p l i c a t e d w h e n y o u s e e w h a t i t i s ; i t s s i m p l y t h e totality of thoughts. Q : I s n t i t t r u e t h a t s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s a r e t h o u g h t s t h a t a r e n o t b e i n g t h o u g h t o f a t t h e m o m e n t ? L e s t e r : N o , t h e y r e b e i n g t h o u g h t o f a t t h e m o m e n t , b u t t h e y r e n o t c o n s c i o u s l y b e i n g t h o u g h t o f ; t h e y r e s u b c o n s c i o u s l y b e i n g t h o u g h t o f a t t h e m o m e n t . Q : S o t h a t s t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n c o n s c i o u s a n d s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s ? L e s t e r : Y e s , s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s a r e a c t i v e r i g h t n o w , b u t w e r e n o t l o o k i n g a t t h e m . A r e y o u consciously pumping your heart? Breathing? Running that chemical digestive factory you have? Are y o u d o i n g t h e s e t h i n g s c o n s c i o u s l y ?We l l , t h e n y o u r e d o i n g t h e ms u b c o n s c i o u s l y . Q : I d i d n t h a v e t h a t i n m i n d e x a c t l y . L e s t e r : I k n o w , b u t I w a n t t o s h o wy o u h o wa l l t h e t h o u g h t s o n t h e b o d y , e v e n t h o u g h y o u r e n o t conscious of them, are active right now, and there are many, many thoughts connected with running a b o d y ; t h e r e s a l o t o f a c t i o n g o i n g o n t h e r e . T h e y r e a c t i v e r i g h t n o w , e v e n t h o u g h w e r e n o t c o n s c i o u s of them. Q : T h a t s a u t o m a t e d ; t h a t s w h a t I c a l l a u t o m a t i o n . Lester: Right, but who is now running the automated action? We are. It was originally useful in t h a t w e d i d n t h a v e t o c o n s c i o u s l y o p e r a t e t h e b o d y . T h e n w e l o s t s i g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t w e t h r e wt h i s o n t o a u t o m a t i c ; a n d t h e r e f o r e i t i s n o wr u n n i n g u s . I t s d i f f i c u l t t o c h a n g e i t b e c a u s e w e h a v e m a d e i t unconscious. As we become aware, we see this and then we change it. We become free of it; we reestablish our control over the body. Our object is to let go of unconscious thoughts, these habitual things of the past that keep us automatically bound. Every habitual thought is a bondage that takes away a certain amount of freedom, happiness. We must let go of all these old habit-thoughts until we are totally free of them. Then we are liberated, fully-realized Masters.
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Q : T h a t s w h y s o m e w o r d s w i l l t r i g g e r u s . I f w e h e a r a c e r t a i n w o r d , w e f l y i n t o a m a d n e s s , o r i f we hear something else, we feel good. Lester: Right! So, our objective is to let go of all these subconscious thoughts. We have done a b e a u t i f u l j o b s o f a r , t h r o u g h u s i n g t h e t h o u g h t s , t h e m i n d . N o wI ms u g g e s t i n g t h a t w e m o v e o n ; t h a t we get the mind yet quieter by doing that which does it directly, that is, by experiencing your Self. I t c a n a l s o b e d o n e i n m e d i t a t i o n . I o u g h t t o r e d e f i n e t h e w o r d m e d i t a t i o n . Wh e n I s a y meditation, I mean holding one thought to the exclusion of other thoughts, and that one thought should be a question. As other thoughts drop away the mind gets quiet and concentrated. When the mind is concentrated, you will experience your Self and It will answer any and every question. It will answer the questions that we need to have answered to show us the way out of the bondages. Now, in meditation, the moment you sit down to quiet the mind, it seems to get noisier, which is n a t u r a l . T h e t h o u g h t s c o m e u p f o r u s t o d r o p , t o l e t g o o f . A n d e a c h t i m e w e l e t g o o f o n e , t h a t s o n e less that we have to let go of. As time goes on and we keep dropping these thoughts, we have less and less to drop. Someday the mind becomes quiet enough so that we fully see this infinite Being that we are; and then in one lump sum, we drop all that is left. And when there are no more thoughts, we are free and there is left only our infinite Self. Q: My mind keeps getting noisier and noisier. L e s t e r : N o , i t i s j u s t t h a t y o u a r e l o o k i n g m o r e a t y o u r s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t s . Y o u d o n t g e t m o r e thoughts, you just become more aware of them. The unconscious thoughts that control you will come up. Every time you meditate this happens, and through practice, someday you will be able to hold one question, one thought, without other thoughts coming in. When you get that far, you are moving rapidly. When you have dropped all subconscious thoughts, then you know what God is, that your beingness is He. Q : I d l i k e t o i d e n t i f y t h e f e e l i n g i n m e d i t a t i o n . I s i t s i m i l a r t o a f e e l i n g y o u g e t w h i l e l i s t e n i n g t o a fine piece of music? Lester: Yes, it is one of the nicest and quietest feelings you can have. Q : T h e n t h e p r o c e s s o f m e d i t a t i o n , a s I ms e e i n g i t n o w , h a s n o t t o d o a t a l l w i t h t h o u g h t s , b u t w i t h identifying with this feeling and allowing it to expand. Lester: Yes! However, this nice feeling is accomplished by quieting the thoughts. Someday the meditative feeling will be far more enjoyable than the music was. Q: I feel that it would be such a tremendous welling up that you would almost explode! L e s t e r : We l l , y o u w o n t e x p l o d e b e c a u s e y o u t a k e i t o n a s m u c h a s y o u c a n a c c e p t i t . T h e r e i s s u c h a t r e m e n d o u s n e s s i n u s , t h a t i f i t c a m e a l l a t o n e t i m e , w e j u s t c o u l d n t t a k e i t . Q: Is meditation related to receptivity? Lester: Definitely yes! The better we are able to meditate, the more receptive we are, and the more receptive we are, the better we can meditate. I ms t r e s s i n g m e d i t a t i o n w i t h t h e h o p e o f h e l p i n g u s t o b e c o m e m o r e r e c e p t i v e . We s h o u l d l e t g o o f t h e q u e e r i d e a s w e h a v e a b o u t m e d i t a t i o n . Y o u d o n t h a v e t o b e a H i n d u o r a Y o g i ; y o u c a n b e o n e hundred per cent American and be a very good mediator. Meditation is simply holding one question or thought to the exclusion of all other thoughts, and w h e n t h a t q u e s t i o n o r t h o u g h t i s o n y o u r b e i n g n e s s , t h a t s r i g h t m e d i t a t i o n . B e f o r e w e a t t a i n g o o d m e d i t a t i o n , w e h a v e t o w o r k t o l e t g o o f e x t r a n e o u s t h o u g h t s w h i l e w e r e t r y i n g t o h o l d o n e q u e s t i o n . T h e n t h a t o n e q u e s t i o n w i l l b e a n s w e r e d , w h a t e v e r t h a t q u e s t i o n i s . Wh a t a mI ? i s t h e f i n a l q u e s t i o n .
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When we get the full answer to that, we are in the ultimate state. Q : D o n t y o u a u t o m a t i c a l l y t r y t o a n s w e r t h a t w h e n y o u a s k y o u r s e l f t h e q u e s t i o n ? Lester: Yes you do, but your mind cannot. The mind can never give you the answer to the question Wh a t a mI ?Wh y ?B e c a u s e R e a l i z a t i o n i s e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e m i n d a n d t h e m i n d p o s i n g t h e q u e s t i o n i s n o t g o i n g t o e l i m i n a t e i t s e l f . I t s a l m o s t l i k e s a y i n g e l i m i n a t e y o u r s e l f . T h e m i n d d o e s n o t w a n t t o e l i m i n a t e i t s e l f , t h e r e f o r e , w h e n t h e m i n d p o s e s t h e q u e s t i o n , Wh a t a mI ? t h e m i n d w i l l n e v e r i n a l l eternity, give the answer. This is another reason why the intellect can take us only so far. The mind cannot give us the answer because it, itself, is in limitation, in finiteness. The answer is in infinity. The mind can pose the q u e s t i o n , Wh a t a mI ? a n d w h e n t h e a n s w e r c o m e s , i t s f r o mb e y o n d t h e m i n d . I t s o n l y b y q u i e t i n g the mind that you will be able to see who and what you are. The mind is the blinding cover over this infinite Self that you are. Q : B u t u n d e r n e a t h i t a l l I mt r y i n g t o f i n d s o m e t h i n g t o h a n g o n t o h e r e i s i t t h i s g l o w , t h i s feeling? L e s t e r : Y e s . I f y o u w i l l e x a m i n e t h e g l o wy o u l l d i s c o v e r i t t o b e a f e e l i n g o f I n e s s , o f beingness. Q: Assuming this feeling that we all get occasionally is our true being shining through, even though i t s a v e r y s m a l l p a r t w e r e e x p e r i e n c i n g , t h i s i s t h e c o n s t a n t e x p e r i e n c e w e s h o u l d a t t a i n t o , r i g h t ? L e s t e r : Y e s !Ma k e i t n o t h i n g b u t t h a t a n d t h a t i s I t . T h e n t h e r e s n o t h i n g b u t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f I . . . a l l t h e t i m e , a n d y o u a r e T h e r e . Q : U p u n t i l n o w , I v e o n l y h a d a n i n t e l l e c t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e s e t h i n g s a n d t h i s i s t h e f i r s t c o n c r e t e e x p e r i e n c e I v e h a d . L e s t e r : We l l , t h a t s n o t r e a l l y s o . T h e r e w a s a l w a y s a f e e l i n g o f e x p e r i e n c i n g w h e n y o u g o t a realization. Q : We l l , t h a t s w h a t I mf i n d i n g o u t ; I v e n o wi d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h i s g l o w , t h i s f e e l i n g . L e s t e r : Y e s , t h e g l o wi s t h e e x p e r i e n c i n g a n d i s h i g h e r t h a n t h e i n t e l l e c t . I t s s i m p l y e x p e r i e n c i n g . Q : T h a t s t h e w a y I w a n t i t b e c a u s e b o o k s m a k e i t s o u n d a w f u l l y c o m p l i c a t e d . H o wd o e s t h a t f i t i n with the Self Realization Fellowship teachings? Lester: SRF teachings will say the same thing from a different approach. Their approach is for the majority of seekers. Christianity is in the realm of love, devotion and surrender to God. So are the S R Ft e a c h i n g s . I n s t e a d o f w o r k i n g s o h a r d t o e l i m i n a t e t h e e g o , t h e y s a y , J u s t s u r r e n d e r t o G o d . I f y o u r e a l l y s u r r e n d e r , i t s o n l y s u r r e n d e r o f t h e e g o . T h y w i l l , n o t m y w i l l i s s i m p l y s u r r e n d e r o f t h e ego. SRF directs you to quiet the mind, mainly through meditation, so that your infinite Self becomes obvious. Its main teaching is its methodology, called Kriya Yoga, an integral method that can be used by everyone. I f y o u u n d e r s t a n d t h e o v e r a l l p i c t u r e , y o u l l s e e t h a t t h e r e s n o d i s a g r e e m e n t . I mt r y i n g t o g e t y o u t o q u i e t t h e m i n d , t o l e t g o o f t h e m i n d . T h e i r t e a c h i n g w i l l e n d u p d o i n g t h e v e r y s a m e t h i n g . A n d i t s a good balance to have our intellectual, wisdom way and their devotional, love and surrender aspect. H o w e v e r , y o u c a n t r e a l l y h a v e o n e w i t h o u t t h e o t h e r . S o a p p r o a c h i n g i t f r o mb o t h s i d e s i s b e n e f i c i a l . A n d w e s h o u l d u s e e v e r y a i d p o s s i b l e . We n e e d i t ; w e r e i n a n e a r t h p e r i o d t h a t i s e x t r e m e l y l o w . We r e h a v i n g o p p o s i t i o n g o i n g o n a l l d a y a s l o n g a s w e a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e w o r l d , a n d t h e r e f o r e a n y a i d
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that is helpful should be used. There is no greater aid than the actual, wonderfully exhilarating experience of being your Self. Be m o r e r e c e p t i v e s u r r e n d e r y o u r l i t t l e s e l f a n d a l l o wt h e P o w e r o f y o u r r e a l S e l f t o f l o w , u n t i l I t , t h e Power, is the only power flowing through you. Glory in that Power! Remain in the Power! Remain and abide as your infinite, glorious Self! ***

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 T h e a l l q u i e t s t a t e i s s u c h a t r e m e n d o u s s t a t e , t h a t i t c a n n e v e r b e p u t i n t o w o r d s . T h e w o r d s e c s t a c y , e u p h o r i a , b l i s s , n i r v a n a d o n t d e s c r i b e i t r e a l l y t h e y o n l y a l l u d e t o i t . Lester Levenson
Session 30 THE QUIET MEDITATIVE STATE OF BEINGNESS CATEGORIES Humanity is divided into three general categories of havingness, doingness, and beingness. The lowest of the three is the havingness state. Most human beings think that if only they could have, they w o u l d b e h a p p y : I f o n l y I c o u l d h a v e a m i l l i o n d o l l a r s , I w o u l d b e t h e h a p p i e s t p e r s o n i n t h e w o r l d . I f o n l y I c o u l d h a v e a s t r o n g , h e a l t h y b o d y . I f o n l y I c o u l d h a v e . T h e n e x t h i g h e r s t a t e i s a d o i n g n e s s s t a t e ; i n s t e a d o f s a y i n g , I f o n l y I c o u l d h a v e , w e r i s e t o t h e place where we want to go out and do, and we are capable of doing things in the world. There, we are more interested in doingness than we are in havingness. The highest state is the beingness realm. This is the state that I am trying to get you into. Beingness will have no meaning until you experience it. Only then will you know what it is and you will want beingness more than anything else in the world. This reminds me of something someone said to me. We visited a friend we had not seen for over a year. She is very interested in metaphysics. While w e w e r e v i s i t i n g h e r , s h e s a i d , L e t s c u t o u t t h i s t a l k i n g ; l e t s m e d i t a t e . Wh y w a s t e t i m e t a l k i n g ? ! She had already experienced this realm of beingness. When you are up there, it looks silly to talk. Why talk? Why not just be?

THE HIGHEST STATE H a v i n g n e s s i s t h e c a t e g o r y t h a t r o u g h l y 9 0 %o f u s l i v e i n m o s t o f t h e t i m e . O h , i f w e o n l y c o u l d h a v e t h o s e a l m i g h t y d o l l a r s , m o r e a n d m o r e o f t h e m , o r a m i l l i o n o f t h e m t h e n w e w o u l d b e f r e e a n d h a p p y . B u t , w h a t i s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h o s e w h o d o a c c u m u l a t e a m i l l i o n o r m o r e ?A r e t h e y happy? Well, a lot of them have many problems, and are loaded down with non-freedom. They are more unhappy than happy. The proof of their not attaining happiness is their compulsive drive to get more and more, even though they cannot use the amount already accumulated. Were it true that material things brought happiness, the wealthy would be so happy that they would be incapacitated by it, and the poor would be so miserable that life would not be worth living. As I said, the next higher state is the doingness state. Here we are the real doers in the world, and are the leaders. Here we are found as big business men, small business men; big politicians and small politicians; people in the arts; and professional people. Here we are out on our own, more independent t h a n t h e j o b h o l d e r . A r e w e h a p p y ?N o !H a p p i e r t h a n t h e j o b h o l d e r b e c a u s e m o r e i n d e p e n d e n t but not free. Still we are compulsively driven. I think the proof of this is the number of actors and actresses who, on attaining the height of fame and fortune, find themselves so unhappy that they commit suicide or go through life frustrated. We c o m e n o wt o t h e o n l y s t a t e t h a t c a n g i v e u s h a p p i n e s s w i t h n o s o r r o w t h e s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s . Beingness is the highest of the three states and it is the very highest state possible. In the ultimate state
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w e a r e B e i n g n e s s , b e i n g a l l b e i n g n e s s . S t a t e d a n o t h e r w a y , i t s A w a r e n e s s , a w a r e o f a l l a w a r e n e s s . Wh e n w e a r e j u s t t h a t , w h e n w e a r e o n l y t h a t , t h a t s t h e h i g h e s t s t a t e . I t i s i n t h i s t o p s t a t e o f Beingness that we reach our ultimates of perfection: contentment, perfect satiation, perfect joy, perfect peace. It is the state of highest felicity.

THE WAY There is no giving up of anything on this path. You always take on more. Those who tell me, We l l , I d o n t w a n t t o g i v e u p , a r e r e f u s i n g t o h e a r w h a t I h a v e b e e n s a y i n g . B u t w h y d o n t y o u h e a r i t ?I t i s v e r y s u b t l e e g o s a b o t a g e s a y i n g , I d o n t w a n t t o g r o wa n y m o r e . Wh e n t h i s h a p p e n s , I should present it to you so that you may see the ego-sabotage. Then you may let go of it and go further. We a r e m o v i n g t o w a r d a n i n f i n i t y , a n d u n t i l w e a r e a b s o l u t e a n d i n f i n i t e , w e s h o u l d k e e p m o v i n g i f w e w a n t t h e u l t i m a t e h a p p i n e s s a n d w h o d o e s n t ?We w i l l n e v e r b e f u l l y h a p p y u n t i l w e r e a c h that state. The ultimate happiness and your Self turn out to be one and the same thing. There will always be a subconscious, below the surface, nagging that pushes us on until we achieve it, until we are There. Wh a t t h e w o r l d t o d a y c a l l s h a p p i n e s s i s e s c a p e f r o mm i s e r y a l l e v i a t i o n o f m i s e r y . T h e r e l a t i v e l y small amount of happiness the world has is only relief from misery. All entertainment, all socializing, is relief and escape from our thoughts! Look at, examine, and discover this. Stop chasing rainbows! In the havingness state, one has the least happiness; in the doingness state, one has more happiness; in the beingness state, one has the greatest happiness. I cannot tell you what it is; it is an experience and you just must experience it. The best way I can help you to experience it is to get you to do what will put you into that state. It is a very deep, quiet, meditative state; it is a state wherein we let go of thoughts. Through my helping, guide you in such a way that you may fall into it, you can experience and know what this state of beingness is. That guidance is to lead you into right meditation and to support you while in it. My objective is to try to show you how to get a deeper and deeper feeling of this state of beingness. Now, some of us have gone very deep into the state of beingness and know what it is. Yet, if I asked you to describe it, you would have difficulty; you could not tell what it is. You could talk around it, describe it by saying it is nice; it is peaceful; it is serene; it is delightful. But what is it? You cannot put it into words. It is like trying to explain to someone what an orange tastes like: You just cannot do it. Once one tastes the orange, then one knows. It is the same with this deep meditative state of beingness. Once you taste it, you know it. And after you have tasted the deep state of meditative beingness, you will want it more than anything else in the world.

THE KEYS For best results, meditate at least one hour in the morning and one hour before retiring. The morning meditation sets you in a mood and prepares you for a better day. The evening meditation helps undo the turbulence of the day and carries through the night. You will find yourself sleeping better. For maximum results, increase the length of your set time of meditation until the meditative state stays with you all the time and remains with no effort. Wh e n y o u w a n t B e i n g n e s s m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e i n t h e w o r l d , i t i s a s i g n t h a t y o u h a v e g o n e d e e p l y i n t o y o u r b e i n g n e s s y o u r S e l f . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e i s s o m u c h g r e a t e r t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e y o u v e ever experienced, you will find yourself preferring it to anything and everything else. Then you will
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see and know that this is what you have been blindly seeking for through indirect external means in the world. And then you will discover that it is right where you are. You do not have to have anything. You do not have to do anything. You only have to be what you are. It is your natural state! As you may have noticed, I have not spoken about ways and means of meditation, nor have I been asked questions on it.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: Do you want questions on it? Lester: That is up to you. I know that some of you joined various organizations and are beginning to get some of the methods. There are organizations whose root teaching is meditation; how to meditate and how to do those things that will prepare you for meditation. These have many methods and means of helping one meditate better. This is important for when thoughts come into our mind unwanted, when we cannot keep them out, we are not free. Whereas, when we can cause thoughts to enter or not enter, we are free and a master over mind. Until then, the mind is the master and we are the slave and the victim of our thoughts. In such a state, we are actually being pushed around like automatons by our habit-thoughts. People t a l k t o u s a n d i t s j u s t a s t h o u g h t h e y a r e p r e s s i n g o u r a u t o m a t i c b u t t o n s . T h e y p r a i s e u s a n d w e g o u p ; t h e y b e r a t e u s a n d w e g o d o w n . A n d w e t h i n k w e r e f r e e w i l l e d !A n y o n e w h o g o e s u p o n p r a i s e a n d down on condemnation is behaving like a robot, because, whether I praise you or condemn you, I d o n t d o a t h i n g t o y o u b u t s e n d o u t t i n y b i t s o f s o u n d e n e r g y , a n d y o u g i v e i t e n o u g h p o w e r t o m a k e you happy or miserable, making you nothing but an automatic robot. So, an easy way to become master over your mind and over this automatic state is through m e d i t a t i o n . I t s t h e p r a c t i c e o f q u i e t i n g t h e m i n d b y s e e k i n g t h a t w h i c h w e r e a l l y a r e . T h i s w e s h o u l d do until we reach the Goal. Our direction from here on should be learning how to better meditate. I c a n g i v e f a r m o r e p o t e n t g u i d a n c e w h i l e y o u r e i n t h e m e d i t a t i v e s t a t e t h a n I c o u l d t h r o u g h m y v o i c e . B u t y o u w i l l n e v e r k n o wi t u n t i l y o u e x p e r i e n c e i t . T h e h e l p y o u v e g o t t e n s o f a r i s s m a l l b y c o m p a r i s o n t o t h e h e l p y o u c a n r e c e i v e w h e n y o u g e t q u i e t ; t h e n I c a n c o m m u n i c a t e t o y o u d i r e c t l y S e l f t o S e l f . T h e n I c a n h e l p y o u b e y o u r r e a l S e l f . N o t o n l y I , b u t a l s o t h e Ma s t e r s . Wh e t h e r T h e y r e here in body or not, this is exactly what They do. When we are quiet, They come in and They help e s t a b l i s h u s i n o u r S e l f . A n d b y o u r e x p e r i e n c i n g i t , w e g o d e e p e r a n d d e e p e r u n t i l i t s c o m p l e t e u n t i l w e r e i n t h e q u i e t m e d i t a t i v e s t a t e 2 4 h o u r s a d a y , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t w e a r e d o i n g . I n t h i s q u i e t s t a t e y o u n e v e r l o s e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . Wh e n y o u g o t o s l e e p , y o u r e f u l l y a w a r e t h a t y o u r e s l e e p i n g . Wh e n y o u a r e d r e a m i n g , y o u r e f u l l y a w a r e t h a t y o u r e d r e a m i n g . S h o u l d y o u d e c i d e t o c u t t h e d r e a m , y o u c a n c u t t h e d r e a m . T h e s a m e w i t h t h e s l e e p . O r , w h i l e y o u r e f u l l y a w a k e , i f y o u decide to go to sleep this moment, you go to sleep this moment. This is not giving up anything; this is becoming a master over the three usual states that we all go through every day: the waking state, the dream state, and the deep, dreamless sleep state. Let me sum up what we have been talking about. First, we talked about our havingness, then our d o i n g n e s s , a n d n o w , w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e t o p s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s . T h e b e i n g n e s s s t a t e s h o u l d b e d e v e l o p e d f r o mh e r e o n . A n y q u e s t i o n s a b o u t w h a t I v e b e e n s a y i n g t o y o u ?I s i t u n d e r s t o o d ? Q: The main purpose of meditation is to learn to quiet the mind? L e s t e r : R i g h t . P u r e l y , s i m p l y a n d w h o l l y t o q u i e t t h e m i n d u n t i l i t s t o t a l l y q u i e t . Wh e n i t s t o t a l l y q u i e t , t h a t s t h e G o a l . Every thought is a thing of limitation, is a cover, a veil, over our infinite Beingness. When we r e m o v e a l l t h e v e i l s , t h e r e s n o t h i n g l e f t b u t o u r i n f i n i t e B e i n g n e s s . T h e v e i l s a r e o n l y o u r t h o u g h t s .
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Mi n d i s n o t m y s t e r i o u s e x c e p t w h e n y o u d o n t u n d e r s t a n d i t . Wh e n y o u u n d e r s t a n d , i t s n o t h i n g b u t t h o u g h t s ; i t s a s s i m p l e a s t h a t . I t s t h e s u mt o t a l c o l l e c t i o n o f t h o u g h t s t h a t i s c a l l e d m i n d . S t o p t h e t h o u g h t s a n d t h e r e s n o m o r e m i n d a c t i o n . Meditation is simply a method of quieting the thoughts and meditation should be continued until all thoughts are quieted. The all-quiet state is such a tremendous state that it can never be put into words. The words ecstasy, euphoria, bliss, nirvana do not describe it really. They only allude to it. But as I said, when you once experience a certain depth of meditation, you have experienced the greatest thing you ever have experienced in your life. And you will want to repeat that experience, want to establish and maintain it so that it is all the time. This experiencing turns out to be only your very own real Self, now called happiness and creeps up very quietly. Wh e n y o u g a i n t h i s b e a u t i f u l d e p t h o f q u i e t u d e , d o n t s p i l l i t o u t i n c o n v e r s a t i o n . Mo s t p e o p l e d o not see how much they let go of this beautiful quietude when they pour it out, lose it, in conversation. The same is true of thinking. When one gets involved in thoughts, the thoughts take one away from the quietude. Then one has only the memory of it being a nice feeling. Instead, one should maintain, sustain and retain this feeling and the best way to do this is, after meditation, remain by yourself. Just keep quiet; stay in it as long as you possibly can, until you become fully established in it all the t i m e . T h e n i t s a l l r i g h t t o t a l k ; y o u w o n t l o s e i t . B u t a s i t i s n o w , y o u l e t g o o f t h e d e p t h o f q u i e t u d e y o u g e t i n m e d i t a t i o n w h e n y o u t a l k t o p e o p l e . Y o u j u s t w a s t e i t a n d i t s s o v a l u a b l e t o g e t t h a t f e e l i n g . Hold it and develop it further and further, until it is there all the time. Y o u l l k n o ww h e n t h e s t a t e o f b e i n g n e s s i s c o m p l e t e . Y o u w i l l s e e y o u r s e l f a s a l l b e i n g n e s s . I t comes in stages. First, we get a little of this beautiful state of quietness, peace, serenity, tranquility; then, as it develops, we begin to see more and more that we are all beingness. In the beginning, it might be for the briefest instant. Then for a minute, or maybe five minutes. Each time the experience w i l l l a s t l o n g e r a n d l o n g e r u n t i l i t s t h e o n l y t h i n g . T h e n y o u w i l l s e e y o u r s e l f o n l y a s b e i n g n e s s b e i n g a l l b e i n g n e s s . T h e n y o u l l k n o ww h a t G o d i s ; y o u w i l l k n o wy o u r r e a l S e l f . Q: This whole thing is like trying to tell somebody what the orange tastes like? Lester: Yes, but most of us have experienced this quietude of beingness to a degree, so it has a certain amount of meaning. To the degree that one has experienced it, it has that much meaning to h i m . T h e n I a d d t o i t b y s a y i n g : s o m e d a y y o u r e g o i n g t o h a v e s u c h a t r e m e n d o u s e x p e r i e n c e o f j u s t Beingness, that after it, you will want only to reestablish it permanently. Everything else in the world becomes secondary to it. You also recognize that what you have been seeking in the world is right w h e r e y o u a r e i t s n o t o u t t h e r e ; i t s w i t h i n , r i g h t w h e r e y o u a r e ; i t s y o u r n a t u r a l , i n h e r e n t s t a t e . I t s y o u r S e l f a n d i t s a l l t h e g l o r y o f g l o r i o u s n e s s . Q: Can this state be reached without direct conscious effort toward finding out who you are? Lester: Yes, in a slower way, by seeking God through devotion and self surrender. Surrender yourself wholly and completely unto your God and you will reach it. Q: I am trying to understand where I am now. L e s t e r : I l l t e l l y o u w h e r e y o u a r e n o w . Y o u a r e a t t h a t p l a c e t h a t s e q u a l t o h o ww e l l y o u c a n remain quiet. To the degree that you can remain quiet, imperturbable, to that degree is your growth. In meditation, how well you can keep your mind on one thought without other thoughts coming in, shows y o u h o wf a r y o u v e g o n e . Q : We l l , I me x p e r i e n c i n g t h o u g h t , s o I c a n t s e e i t . L e s t e r : T h e r e a r e i n d i r e c t w a y s o f t e l l i n g . H o we a s i l y y o u r e d i s t u r b e d b y o t h e r s . H o wm u c h y o u r e a c t t o w h a t p e o p l e s a y , a n d s o f o r t h . Wh e n y o u r m i n d i s r e a l l y q u i e t , i t d o e s n t m a t t e r w h a t p e o p l e
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s a y a b o u t y o u ; y o u d o n t m i n d . Q : B u t y o u a l r e a d y a r e t h a t w h i c h y o u a r e s e e k i n g . I t s j u s t a m a t t e r o f k n o w i n g i t , i s n t i t ? L e s t e r : Y e s , i t s a m a t t e r o f r e r e m e m b e r i n g i t , r e c o g n i z i n g i t . We h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e i t t o recognize it. Meditation is the way to experience it. Right now, we are convinced that we are limited to being our body. That is the biggest lie of all lies. We are infinite! It is just wrong perception, wrong seeing. It is an illusion. The lie is not real. The reality is that we are the Beingness behind the body. Q: What we really should do when we get into meditation is to see what we are and not see the limited being? What should we do to get away from the sense of limitation? Lester: Let go of the concepts of limitation. By doing this, you experience beingness more and more until you experience only the Being, You, just behind the body and mind. Q : O u r t h o u g h t s o f l i m i t a t i o n a r e w h a t s r e s t r i c t i n g u s f r o ms e e i n g w h a t w e a r e ? Lester: Yes, our thoughts, which themselves are limitations. And not just our thoughts of l i m i t a t i o n , b u t o u r t h o u g h t s e v e r y o n e o f t h e m i s a l i m i t a t i o n . Q: How do you differentiate between consciousness and thought? Lester: Consciousness is general awareness. Thought is awareness of a particular thing. Q : T o m e i t m e a n s m o r e i f , i n s t e a d o f u s i n g t h e w o r d m e d i t a t i o n , y o u s a y , I w a n t y o u t o b e g i n getting rid of your sense of limitation and get a feeling of being all; of being all knowledge, all c o n s c i o u s n e s s . Lester: That is what meditation does and achieves. Q: I have to put it into words, and I suppose you know it instinctively. L e s t e r : N o , I p u t i t i n t o w o r d s . I d e f i n e m e d i t a t i o n m o s t s i m p l y a s k e e p i n g o n e s m i n d o n o n e t h o u g h t . N o wt h i s m a k e s s e n s e t o y o u : H o l d o n e t h o u g h t s u c h a s , Wh a t i s G o d ? J u s t s t a y w i t h t h a t t h o u g h t , a n d o n l y t h a t t h o u g h t , a n d k e e p o t h e r t h o u g h t s o u t ; t h a t s m e d i t a t i o n . T a k e a n o t h e r t h o u g h t : Wh a t i s t h i s w o r l d ? J u s t h o l d t h e t h o u g h t : Wh a t i s t h i s w o r l d ?Wh a t i s i t ? Y o u k e e p q u e s t i o n i n g : Wh a t i s t h i s w o r l d ? Wh e n t h e r e i s o n l y o n e t h o u g h t , t h e m i n d i s q u i e t . Wh e n t h e m i n d i s q u i e t , t h e answer comes from beyond the mind. Q: You are not saying what we have been taught elsewhere, to think about a rose and not let any o t h e r t h o u g h t c o m e i n . Y o u r e r e a l l y s a y i n g t h i n k a b o u t G o d , o r a b o u t I . L e s t e r : Y e s . Wh a t a mI ? i s t h e v e r y t o p q u e s t i o n . Wh e n t h e a n s w e r t o t h a t c o m e s f u l l y , t h a t s I t . By holding that question in your mind and awaiting the answer to it, you are doing the very best of meditation. No matter what method one uses, no matter what path one takes, in the end one gets the a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI ? B u t k n o wt h i s : t h e m i n d w i l l n e v e r g i v e y o u t h e a n s w e r . A n y a n s w e r t h e mind gives has to be wrong because the mind is an instrument of thought, and every thought is limited. Therefore, you mentally pose the question and you await the answer, and it is from beyond your mind, from your Self, that the answer comes. Q: Because you already know, so you just stop the nonsense? Lester: Yes, you stop the nonsense of not knowing. Q : A n d i n r e c o g n i z i n g , I k n o w , I k n o w , I mg e t t i n g r i d o f b e i n g l i m i t e d .
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L e s t e r : T h a t s i t !T h a t s t h e w h o l e t h i n g i n a n u t s h e l l . A s y o u s a i d , y o u a l r e a d y k n o wi t a n d y o u just let go of the thoughts that are contrary to it until this knowingness is self-obvious. This is called realization or revelation. Q: Is beingness no thought of consciousness? Lester: Beingness, when complete, is without thought. However, beingness and consciousness are the same, which one cannot intellectualize on, but which one can experience. Beingness and c o n s c i o u s n e s s a r e t h e e x a c t s a m e t h i n g . T h a t s w h y I s a i d : I f y o u w a n t t o k n o wa c o w , b e a c o w . I f you want to know what a tree is, be a tree. And you can, because you are. How better can you know something than to be it? T h e r e a l a n s w e r w i l l c o m e w h e n y o u g e t t h e r e ; t h e n y o u l l s e e t h a t b e i n g n e s s a n d c o n s c i o u s n e s s a r e t h e s a m e . D o n t i n t e l l e c t u a l i z e o n i t . D o i t !D o i t ! Q : I t s a w f u l l y b o r i n g w h e n , i n m e d i t a t i o n , n o t h i n g c o m e s . L e s t e r : I t s h o u l d n t b e b o r i n g b e c a u s e , a s y o u r e d o i n g i t , y o u r e q u i e t i n g t h o u g h t s . T h e m o r e y o u quiet thoughts, the happier you are. I t h i n k b y n o ww e c a n a l l e x a m i n e a n d k n o ww h a t o u r j o y s r e a l l y c o n s i s t o f . I f w e r e l i s t e n i n g t o music, our mind concentrates only on the music; all other thoughts and problems of the day are let go so the music seems beautiful. It is really dropping our discomforting thoughts that makes the focus of our attention on something external seem so wonderful. Q : I m u s t e x p r e s s a t h o u g h t I j u s t h a d w h e n y o u w e r e t a l k i n g . I n o t h e r w o r d s , i t s l i k e a l l e l e c t r i c i t y going one way, with no side issues, no interference. When you listen to music, you think about nothing but the music. Lester: Yes, all other thoughts, bothersome limitations, are let go of for the time being and you feel y o u r r e a l S e l f m u c h m o r e . Y o u l l n e v e r k n o wt h e r e a l b e a u t y u n t i l y o u s e e t h e B e a u t y b e h i n d t h e beauty, the Source of the beauty. Q : Wh i c h i s I ? Lester: Yes, your real Self. When you develop the ability to meditate, it leads you into the most beatific, blessed state; into nirvana, tranquility and serenity; into your quiet meditative state of knowing w h a t y o u a r e y o u , t h e r e a l B e i n g o f t h e u n i v e r s e , b e i n g y o u r i n f i n i t e , g l o r i o u s a n d m a g n i f i c e n t S e l f . ***

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 Ap e r s o n c a n c o n t r o l a w h o l e n a t i o n , b u t i f t h e y c a n n o t c o n t r o l t h e i r o w n m i n d , w h a t k i n d o f c o n t r o l d o t h e y h a v e ?T h e a r e v i c t i m s o f t h e i r o w n m i n d . Lester Levenson
Session 31 MEDITATION DROPPING THE MIND The greatest thing, and the most difficult thing we have to do is to drop the mind. It is a junkyard f u l l o f r e f u s e f r o ma g e s p a s t ; r e f u s e o f t h o u g h t s o f l i m i t a t i o n s I a ma l i m i t e d b o d y , I h a v e t r o u b l e s . All thoughts contain limitation. We pile them up in the thing we call mind. Mind is nothing but the total accumulation of all these thoughts. So mind is kind of a junkyard of limitation. All right, so how do we get rid of the mind? By quieting it. When we quiet the mind we discover our infinity. The more we see our limitlessness, the more we recognize that junkyard called mind, and the more we let go of it. We let go of it until we go so far that we drop the whole remaining mind at one time. However, before that, we keep battling the thoughts as they come up. As the thoughts come up, we let go, let go, let go, until we let go of enough of them so that the Self that we are, is obvious. Then it takes over and takes us all the way. The greatest thing is quieting the mind which is eliminating thought, which is eliminating the mind. Meditation is a necessary step in quieting the mind. This is the major point I am stressing: Meditate. Learn how to meditate and in that state learn how to release. The deeper one goes, the more one discovers the innate joys to which there are no limits. No matter how joyful you get, you can always go further. If you were a thousand times more joyful than you are now, you could still go on and on and on in joy. Joy is unlimited because you are infinite. But the major thing to accomplish is the ability to control the mind, to meditate, to release, to drop into peace at will. A person can control a whole nation, but if they cannot control their own mind, what kind of control have they got? They are a victim of their own mind. Rather than being in free control over their thoughts, they are an effect of them. They are actually pushed around by past habits. They are no Master. Only the one who can control their mind is a Master, a Master not only of themselves, but of anything and everything they do. Meditation is the way. Here are some additional thoughts. Let your time with them be a meditation. *** Meditation is directed thinking. *** Meditation is putting your mind on the way to find God. *** Meditation is looking for the answers in the right direction.
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*** Meditation is basically thinking in the right direction and holding to it so that other thoughts keep dropping away until the mind is concentrated. When the mind is concentrated the answers become obvious to you. *** Concentration is holding one thought to the exclusion of other thoughts and will lift one and help one grow. *** The ability to hold one thought concentrates the mind so that it can crack the secrets of itself. *** Meditating to get the mind quiet is good. Meditating to let go of ego-wants is better. Meditating on Wh a t a mI ? i s b e s t . *** Meditate, actively seeking. *** Me d i t a t i o n s h o u l d b e o n : Wh a t a mI ? Wh a t i s G o d ? Wh a t i s t h e Wo r l d ? Wh a t s m y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e w o r l d ? Wh a t i s t h e s u b s t a n c e o f t h i s Wo r l d ? Wh a t i s i n f i n i t y ? Wh a t i s i n t e l l i g e n c e ? Wh e r e i s t h i s Wo r l d ? o r o n s o m e o f t h e s t a t e m e n t s y o u v e h e a r d l i k e : I mn o t i n t h e Wo r l d b u t t h e Wo r l d i s i n m e . Q u e s t i o n a n d a s k , H o wc o m e ? T r y t o s e e i t . T r y t o s e e t h e m e a n i n g behind these statements of Truth. *** We get to see the perfection by looking in the direction where the perfection is. Now, the perfection i s n t o u t t h e r e ; w e k n o wt h a t . T h e p e r f e c t i o n i s i n h e r e w h e r e w e a r e , w h e r e t h e I o f u s i s . S o f i r s t , we have to direct our attention inwardly; we should pose a question and hold it until the answer comes. Wh e n t h e a n s w e r d o e s c o m e , y o u k n o w , a n d y o u k n o wy o u k n o w . A n d t o g e t t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a m I ? i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s t i l l t h e n o i s e o f t h e m i n d , t o s t i l l t h e t h o u g h t s . T h e t h o u g h t s a r e t h e n o i s e . T h e t h o u g h t s a r e c o n c e p t s o f l i m i t a t i o n a n d t h e r e a r e s o m a n y o f t h e mt h a t t h e y r e c o n s t a n t l y b o m b a r d i n g us, one after another all the time. Keep dropping them until perfection is obvious. *** A l l t h e s e e x t r a n e o u s t h o u g h t s w o u l d n t c o m e i n i f w e w e r e n t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e m . ***

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We must learn how to quiet the mind. We can never learn how by constant conversation. The less conversation, the better. *** Meditation does not have to be formal to be meditation. It can be any time one gets quiet and seeks. S o m e o f u s f i n d i t i s e a s i e r t o m e d i t a t e w h e n i t i s n t f o r m a l b e c a u s e s o m e t i m e s w e u n c o n s c i o u s l y h a v e objections and resistances to formal meditation. However, we should work to drop the objections and resistances, and be free of them. *** Reverse your negative thoughts as they come into mind. Let go of negative thoughts by reversing them and then eventually, let go of all thoughts. *** Wh a t y o u g a i n r e m a i n s . E v e n t h o u g h y o u v e u n d o n e o n e t h o u g h t , o n e i d e a , t h e r e s t i l l r e m a i n s m u l t i t u d e s o f t h o u g h t s a n d s o a n o t h e r o n e c o m e s u p . U n d o i n g o n e l i m i t i n g t h o u g h t d o e s n t u n d o a l l the subconscious thoughts. What remains must be let go of. By dropping a tendency of predisposition, you drop all the thoughts motivating it. *** Meditation should always be with a seeking. *** Everything that everyone is looking for through work is far better gotten through meditation. Meditation will sooner and better get you what you want than working in the world for it will. *** It is the doorway to the Infinite when you go inward. When you go outward, it is the doorway to limitation. *** Internalize your attention. All externalized attention is wasted. *** What you do to yourself, being your own doing, can only be un-done by you. *** God is known only through our effort and direction. Look concentratedly within for the kingdom of God.
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*** Wi t h m e d i t a t i o n , y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r t h a t y o u v e c o v e r e d u p y o u r u n l i m i t e d S e l f w i t h y o u r l i m i t e d ego. *** Meditation is the road to omnipresence. *** Meditate to get into the practice and habit of meditation. We should meditate as much as we p o s s i b l y c a n . Me d i t a t i o n i s g e t t i n g t h e m i n d o n e p o i n t e d i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f w h o a n d w h a t w e a r e . I t s t a k i n g t h e m i n d a w a y f r o mt h e w o r l d l y t h i n g s a n d f o c u s i n g i t o n t h e d i r e c t i o n t h a t w e r e i n . T h e m o r e we do it the more we like it. And the more we like it, the more we do it, until it becomes a thing that g o e s o n e f f o r t l e s s l y a l l t h e t i m e . N o m a t t e r w h a t y o u r e d o i n g , t h a t m e d i t a t i o n c o n t i n u e s i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d . T h e n y o u a r e r e a l l y m o v i n g . U n t i l t h e n y o u r e n o t m o v i n g v e r y r a p i d l y , b e c a u s e m o s t o f t h e t i m e y o u r e i n t h e w o r l d a n d i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f l i m i t a t i o n . *** T h e r e s o n l y o n e w a y t o g e t t o t h e h i g h s t a t e , a n d t h a t i s b y q u i e t i n g t h e m i n d . T h e m e t h o d o f q u i e t i n g t h e m i n d i s m e d i t a t i o n . I t s v e r y d i f f i c u l t : t h e m o m e n t y o u s i t d o w n a n d w a n t t o q u i e t t h e mind, up pop the thoughts. Well, as the thoughts pop up, keep knocking them out, putting them out, dropping them, until you reach a state where you can sit relatively quiet. Then you begin to like m e d i t a t i o n b e c a u s e i t s a d e e p e r e x p e r i e n c e o f y o u r r e a l S e l f . O n c e y o u l i k e i t , t h e m a i n o b s t a c l e t o t h e practice of meditation is eliminated. But you should never stop until you reach the place where meditation is delightful. Then you will go on with ease. *** The most effective meditation is when you are by yourself. Group meditation is for beginners, for the purpose of accustoming one to meditation. *** Meditation really should be communing with your Self. *** Y o u l l s e e y o u r S e l f t o t h e p r o p o r t i o n t h a t y o u r m i n d i s q u i e t . *** The way to get rid of the ego is to get the mind so quiet that you can see what you are. Then you know that you are not the ego and you drop it. ***
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Intense meditation will get you to your realized Teacher, to your Master. *** To expand from being just a body is so difficult because of the state of the world today. We do need the help of the Masters to lift us, actually to help pull us right out of it. They cannot do that unless we are receptive. We cannot be receptive unless our mind is quiet. And our mind becomes quiet through meditation. *** Just go into meditation, get quiet and expect that higher help and it will come. God and Gurus are constantly helping us. If we just get quiet, with their help we are lifted into experiencing our Self. *** Meditation has to get to the point where it is the most important thing. However, even a little meditation will go a long way, especially if it is concentrated. *** Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Spiritual knowledge does not come down to a lower level. We have to raise ourselves up to it. We raise ourselves in meditation. Meditation should be used to get higher understanding by raising ourselves up to where higher understanding is. *** Meditation is wonderful. Things happen in meditation that never could happen while you are talking or active. *** You can make the mind quiet by the desire to discover what you are. When the interest in knowing what you are becomes stronger than the interest in this world and body, then you discover you. Desire, intense desire for it, is the key. The concept of meditating by making your mind a blank is in error. You cannot make your mind a blank. *** Me d i t a t i o n i s a s t e p p i n g s t o n e t o t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e a n s w e r t o , Wh a t a mI ? *** Someday the most delightful thing you will know of will be meditation. ***
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Meditate until it becomes constant, i.e., until it continues in back of the mind regardless of what you are doing. *** There is a meditation of just getting quiet. Just get quiet, not in a passive way, but in an active way o f j u s t b e i n g . I t s a w f u l l y n i c e t o j u s t b e a n d b e a n d b e . I t s a t r e m e n d o u s e x p e r i e n c e . I t s a w o n d e r f u l f e e l i n g o f j u s t b e i n g . H o w e v e r , d o n t s t o p t h e r e . K e e p d r o p p i n g e g o u n t i l t h e r e i s n o m o r e . *** Y o u l l r e a c h a p o i n t w h e r e y o u l l l i k e m e d i t a t i o n b e t t e r t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e , b e c a u s e y o u l l r e a c h a p o i n t w h e r e y o u r e b e i n g v e r y m u c h y o u r r e a l S e l f . T h a t i s t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l j o y w h i c h y o u f o r m e r l y t h o u g h t w a s e x t e r n a l i n t h e w o r l d , i n y o u r w i f e , i n y o u r c h i l d r e n . Y o u l l s e e y o u r w i f e a n d y o u r c h i l d r e n a s n o t h i n g b u t y o u r o w n S e l f ; y o u l l s e e t h a t . A n d t h e j o y w i l l b e d i r e c t a n d c o n s t a n t a l l t h e time. *** T h e a n s w e r w o n t c o m e f r o mr e a s o n i n g , i t w i l l c o m e f r o mq u i e t m e d i t a t i o n : S o m e d a y , s o m e t i m e i t w i l l c o m e . I t w i l l j u s t p r e s e n t i t s e l f t o y o u , s o s i m p l e , a n d y o u l l s a y , O h ! *** Meditation is thinking, but thinking on one thing so that other thoughts drop away. When you are intensely interested in one thing, other thoughts drop away. *** The quieter we are, the more we are the Self. When meditation becomes constant, all the time, even though we are outwardly active, we go through life and work automatically, all the time remaining in our Self. *** The mature seeker of the Self starts with: The reality is that I was never bound; I was always free a n d p e r f e c t a n d t a k e s o f f f r o mt h e r e . *** Just look at what you are instead of what you are not. When you discover what you are, you simultaneously discover what you are not and drop it. *** S a y , I a mn o t t h i s b o d y ; I a mn o t t h i s m i n d , a n d s t a y w i t h i t .

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*** S e e i n g t h a t y o u r e n o t t h e e g o , y o u r e l e t t i n g g o o f t h e b i g c h u n k s o f e g o . *** The depth to which you go in meditation determines how much you wipe out the ego. *** Depth of meditation is the degree of quieting the mind. *** The longer you can meditate, the deeper you can go. *** Once you reach peace, then find out what you are. *** Getting the good feeling is good. The higher you go the better the feeling is. But when you look for the good feeling as the end, then that is the end. Growing is more than dropping into the good feeling o f t h e S e l f ; i t i s d r o p p i n g t h e n o n s e l f t h e e g o . *** E n j o y i n g m e d i t a t i o n i s a s t e p , b u t d o n t s t o p t h e r e ; g o b e y o n d i t . Y o u h a v e g o t t o g e t t h e a n s w e r . One could possibly meditate forever and forever. *** Me d i t a t i o n i n i t s e l f c a n g e t t o b e a t r i p , c a n b e u s e d a s a c r u t c h . Y o u v e g o t t o g e t r e a l i z a t i o n s . *** Wh e n y o u g e t f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n , y o u r e i n t h e m e d i t a t i v e s t a t e a l l t h e t i m e . A c t u a l l y , m e d i t a t i o n i s t h e natural state. *** Constant meditation is a constant remembering of God, Self. *** Me d i t a t i o n i s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t a t f i r s t , b u t i t g e t s e a s i e r a s t i m e g o e s o n t h e n , o n e d a y y o u l l s a y , T h i s i s g r e a t !T h i s i s w h a t I Wa n t ! T h e n y o u d o i t a l l t h e t i m e . T h e n y o u r e r e a l l y o n t h e
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spiritual path. *** Very concentratedly dwell upon your Self. Turn the mind back upon the mind to discover what the m i n d i s , a n d t h e n g o b e y o n d t h e m i n d a n d d w e l l i n y o u r S e l f . E a c h o n e m u s t e x p e r i e n c e i t . I t s a p e r c e p t i o n , b u t i t s n o t r e a l l y a m e n t a l p e r c e p t i o n . Y o u g e t r e c o g n i t i o n s , r e v e l a t i o n s , r e a l i z a t i o n s b y keeping the mind pointed in one direction until it gets very quiet, until other thoughts drop away. Hold one thought until that takes you to the realm just behind thinkingness; The answer is there. We call it an experience, a revelation. *** We must learn to quiet the mind so that when we sit down, we let go of the world. Only then do we r e a l l y b e g i n t o m o v e a t h i g h l e v e l s o n t h i s s p i r i t u a l p a t h . We v e m a d e t h i s w o r l d a b e t t e r w o r l d ; w e v e m a d e t h i s d r e a ma h a p p i e r d r e a m b u t w e r e a l m o s t a s b o u n d a s w e w e r e b e f o r e . We h a v e r e p l a c e d bondages to bad things with bondages to good things. Now we must learn to let go of thoughts, all thoughts. The way is through meditation, right meditation: quieting the mind, stilling thoughts, and finally eliminating all thoughts. In group meditation support is lent one unto the other. The power is multiplied and you can get more deeply quiet as time goes by. But the very best meditation is when you are by yourself and you need no group support. Then you are not confined to any time period. You get with it and you might stay with it five, ten, even twenty-four hours. And this should happen. When you get to like it so m u c h t h a t y o u s t a y u p a l l n i g h t c o n t i n u i n g i t , i t h a s b e c o m e m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g t h a n s l e e p . T h e n y o u v e g o t t h e m o m e n t u mg o i n g . T h e n y o u l l g e t t o s e e a n d b e y o u r r e a l S e l f . *** Aw a y t o d o m i n a t e t h e m i n d i s t o d r o p i n t o t h e S e l f . Y o u r e a c h a p l a c e w h e r e i t s s o d e l i g h t f u l y o u j u s t d o n t w a n t t o d o a n y t h i n g b u t r e m a i n i n i t . I t g e t s t o b e v e r y e a s y . O n c e y o u g e t t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e i t s e a s y , t h e n j u s t c o n t i n u e i t . S t a y w i t h i t u n t i l y o u g o a l l t h e w a y . B y t h e c o n s t a n c y o f i t , e a c h d a y , you get quieter and quieter, and then the Self, as you see it, keeps scorching the ego, which further quiets the mind. *** Y o u k n o w , i t s s a i d t h a t y o u r s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h r e a l l y b e g i n s w h e n y o u a r e a b l e t o d r o p i n t o s a m a d h i . I d o n t l i k e t o s a y t h i s b e c a u s e i t s d i s c o u r a g i n g t o s o m e p e o p l e . S a m a d h i i s c o m p l e t e a b s o r p t i o n i n y o u r t h o u g h t . I t s t o t a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n . *** Meditation at first is holding the thoughts on God, Self, to the exclusion of other thoughts. When one is realized, meditation is the awareness, not of anything by anyone, but only the current of awareness of awareness where there is no otherness and no action, yet compatible with full use of the mental and physical faculties. ***
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At the end of the road of meditation you discover your grand and glorious Self!

A l l o f a s u d d e n i t s t h e r e a n d y o u r e a l i z e i t s a l w a y s b e e n t h e r e , t h a t y o u h a v e b e e n l o o k i n g a w a y f r o mi t b y d e l u d i n g y o u r s e l f i n t o t h i n k i n g y o u a r e a b o d y a n d m i n d . Lester Levenson
Session 32 THE GAME LIMITATION We are all infinite, perfect Beings. I assume that most of us accept this, at least theoretically. We are told this by the scriptures, especially the Hindu scriptures. The Masters tell us this. I come along and say the same thing. But why do we not express this infinite, perfect Being that we are? The reason we do not express it is that through habit of lifetimes, we have played a game of limitation. We have played it so long that we have completely forgotten that we have been playing a game of limitation and that our real basic nature is infinite. We do not, however, look at this infinite Being that we are. We continue, every day, every moment, looking at this little puppet that we set up, called the body, and assume that we are that body. So long as we keep looking at this body as being us, we are s t u c k r i g h t t h e r e ; w e c a n n o t s e e o u r i n f i n i t y , w e d o n t k n o wt h a t i t i s ; a n d w e g o o n a n d o n , l i f e t i m e i n and lifetime out, assuming that we are a body. We have done this for so long, in fact, that it takes a super will to move in the opposite direction, to look at and see the infinite Being that we really are. This super will can take us away from assuming every moment that we are a limited body. If we would do it for just one second and see this infinite Being that we really are, we would use that second to undo much limitation. But first we must assume that we are infinite. Then we must start undoing the limitations. We must actually accept that we are not this body, that we are not this mind, and until we do that we have absolutely no chance of getting o u t o f t h i s t r a p c a l l e d T h e G a m e o f B e i n g L i m i t e d B o d i e s . So, as the scriptures say: Thou Art That. Be still and know it. Every thought we have is necessarily a t h o u g h t o f l i m i t a t i o n . L e t g o o f t h o u g h t g e t s t i l l .

MORE METHODS T h e m e t h o d s a r e , a s w e k n o w , t o q u i e t t h e m i n d . T h e w a y t o d o t h i s i s t o h o l d o n e t h o u g h t t h e h i g h e s t o n e w e c a n f i n d a n d t h e n l e t g o o f a l l o t h e r t h o u g h t s . T h e m o m e n t t h e m i n d i s q u i e t enough, this infinite Being that we are becomes self-obvious. So the method is very simple: quiet that mind enough so that you see this infinite Being that you are. The moment you see it, the moment you s e e t h i s i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t y o u a r e , y o u l l i m m e d i a t e l y g o t o w o r k t o u n d o t h e r e m a i n i n g t h o u g h t s t h a t suggest that you are not infinite. And when there are no more thoughts of limitation, there will only be the infinite Being left. S t r a n g e l y e n o u g h , w h a t y o u a r e s e e k i n g i s t h e v e r y c l o s e s t t h i n g t o y o u . E v e r y t i m e y o u s a y I , t h a t s I t . Wh e n y o u s a y I , y o u a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g . Wh e n y o u s a y I a ma b o d y , y o u a r e s a y i n g I , t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g , a ma l i m i t e d b o d y w i t h a l i m i t e d m i n d . I t i s r e a l l y a s s i m p l e a s t h a t .
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But simplicity does not mean it is easy to let go of the habits that you have been hanging onto for aeons. This thing that everyone is seeking, this thing that everyone calls happiness, is nothing but the infinite Self that we are. Everyone, in his every act, is seeking this infinite Self that he is, calling it by o t h e r n a m e s : m o n e y , h a p p i n e s s , s u c c e s s , l o v e , e t c . H a v i n g b e e n t o l d t h i s a n d a g a i n , w e v e b e e n t o l d t h i s m a n y t i m e s b e f o r e w h y d o n t w e j u s t b e w h a t w e a r e a n d s t o p t r y i n g t o b e w h a t w e a r e n o t a l i m i t e d b o d y ?C a n a n y o n e a n s w e r t h a t ?Wh y d o n t w e s t o p b e i n g l i m i t e d ?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q : B e c a u s e w e c a n t . L e s t e r : Y o u m e a n a n i n f i n i t e B e i n g c a n t s t o p b e i n g l i m i t e d ? Q : B e c a u s e w e d o n t w a n t t o . L e s t e r : R i g h t . We d o n t w a n t t o ! Q : T h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g d o e s n t w a n t t o ? L e s t e r : Y e s . I , t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g , t h i n k I a ma l i m i t e d b o d y , a n d I v e b e e n d o i n g t h i s s o l o n g t h a t I , the infinite Being, do not want to let go of constantly assuming I am this limited body. Does this make sense? Q: Yes. L e s t e r : E v e r y t i m e y o u s a y I w i t h o u t g o i n g a n y f u r t h e r , y o u r e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t y o u a r e , b u t y o u i m m e d i a t e l y a d d t o i t a mt h i s b o d y . I f y o u w o u l d o n l y j u s t s a y I I I f r o mh e r e o n , y o u d g e t f u l l r e a l i z a t i o n , b e c a u s e a s y o u r e s a y i n g I I I , y o u r e c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n I a n d n o t s a y i n g a ma l i t t l e b o d y w i t h n e e d s . S o t h e r e s n o o n e w h o i s n o t e v e r y m o m e n t e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t h e i s . A s l o n g a s h e e x p e r i e n c e s a n I , h e i s e x p e r i e n c i n g t h i s i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t h e i s . H o w e v e r , y o u d o n t w a n t t o s e e t h a t . Y o u w a n t t o b e t h e b o d y . S o , w h a t i s r e q u i r e d ?F i r s t , s a y i n g t o y o u r s e l f I a mn o t t h i s b o d y , I a mn o t t h i s m i n d ; t h e n w h a t a mI ? I f w e r e j e c t t h i s b o d y a n d m i n d enough, what we are becomes self-obvious. We can never become an infinite Being because we are that. We can only let go of the concepts that we are not it. We can just let go of the concepts that we are a body, a mind. The first thing needed is the desire to let go of this limited beingness that we think we are. A very strong desire to be the infinite Being that we really are is the only thing that we need to get there quickly. B u t , w e d o n t w a n t i t . I f w e r e a l l y w a n t e d I t , w e w o u l d h a v e I t . T h e r e i s d i f f i c u l t y , o f c o u r s e . A n d w h a t i s t h e d i f f i c u l t y ?I t s t h e h a b i t ; i t s t h e u n c o n s c i o u s h a b i t u a l t h i n k i n g ; i t s t h e m i n d . S o w e a t t a c k it by attacking this very unconsciously thinking mind. The mind is the only cover over the infinite B e i n g t h a t w e a r e . We m u s t s t o p t h i n k i n g l o n g e n o u g h t o s e e w h a t w e a r e , a n d t h a t l o n g e n o u g h c a n be just one second. If you would stop thinking for one second (thinking includes the unconscious t h i n k i n g t o o ) i f y o u w o u l d s t o p t h i n k i n g f o r o n e s e c o n d , t h e t r e m e n d o u s l i b e r a t i n g s h o c k o f s e e i n g what you are would cause you to use this infinite power that is yours, to scorch the mind. The mind can be scorched in large amounts, each and every time we will, just for a moment, drop into that unlimited state of no thinking. I guess the next question is: How do we create the desire for it? If the desire is strong enough, anyone can see and fully be the infinite Being in a matter of weeks, months, a few years. If any one of you had a strong desire to see this infinite Being that you are and just kept that desire only, in a few
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months you would see and remain as the infinite Being that you are. You would stop imagining yourself to be a limited body. So the key is desire. When you desire to be a body-beautiful, a body-healthy, you can become these things, but all these thoughts generally prevent you from seeing the infinite Being that you are. So to go further, you simply exchange all your desires for the one desire to discover your infinite real Self. A r e t h e r e a n y q u e s t i o n s o n w h a t I v e s a i d s o f a r ? Q : Wh i l e d o i n g , Wh a t a mI ? , I l o o k e d a t t h e s t a r s a n d I g o t a n i d e a t h a t I c o u l d b e t h e s t a r s . Lester: You are talking about a method called Self Inquiry, which is really the very top method. T h e f i n a l q u e s t i o n w e a l l h a v e t o a n s w e r i s : Wh a t a mI ?A n d w h e n t h a t a n s w e r c o m e s , t h a t s I t . S o , why not pose that question at the beginning? However, it is important to remember that when you p o s e t h e q u e s t i o n Wh a t a mI ? t h e a n s w e r t h e m i n d g i v e s c a n n o t b e r i g h t b e c a u s e t h e m i n d i s t h e cover over your real Self. The mind is the thing that limits you. So the method is to hold the question Wh a t a mI ? a n d o n l y t h i s q u e s t i o n . I f a n o t h e r t h o u g h t c o m e s i n , q u i c k l y d r o p i t b y s a y i n g t o y o u r s e l f , T o w h o mi s t h i s t h o u g h t ? . . . We l l , t o m e . . . We l l , w h a t a mI ? A n d y o u r e r i g h t b a c k o n t h e track. Keep following this track until you move beyond thought to knowing. Q: I see. Thank you. Lester: Now, there are just a rare few on our planet who successfully use this method. Therefore, I s u g g e s t w e u s e i t t h i s w a y . A l w a y s s e e k t h e a n s w e r t o Wh a t a mI ? N o m a t t e r w h a t y o u d o d u r i n g the day, whether in meditation, reading, or so forth, in back of your mind always keep that question p o i s e d a n d b e r e a d y a n d w a i t i n g f o r a n a n s w e r : Wh a t a mI ? . . . Wh a t a mI ? I u s e w h a t r a t h e r t h a n w h o b e c a u s e w h o i s a p e r s o n a l p r o n o u n a n d t e n d s t o l e a d u s i n t o b e i n g t h e b o d y . Wh a t i s m o r e impersonal. But this question should always be held. No matter what path we follow, no matter what m e t h o d w e u s e , w e s h o u l d a l w a y s h o l d i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d Wh a t a mI ? A n d i f w e d o t h i s , e v e n t u a l l y we will see the full answer. Q: Lester, pertaining to this method, how many times does one ask the question? L e s t e r : E v e r y t i m e a t h o u g h t , a s t r a y t h o u g h t , c o m e s i n t o t h e m i n d , w e s a y , T o w h o mi s t h i s t h o u g h t ? . . . We l l , i t s t o m e . . . T h e n , w h a t a mI ? T h i s w i l l h a v e t o b e r e p e a t e d a f t e r e a c h s t r a y thought. Q : A n d i f n o t h o u g h t s c o m e , t h e n i t s n o t t o b e s a i d ? Lester: Right. Q: Then you wait for an answer. L e s t e r : Wa i t t o s e e ; y o u d o n t w a i t f o r a n a n s w e r ; a n s w e r s c o m e f r o mt h e m i n d . Q: You wait to see? L e s t e r : Y e s , y o u w a i t t o s e e . T h e S e l f b e c o m e s s e l f o b v i o u s . A l l o f a s u d d e n I t s t h e r e a n d y o u realize It has always been there, that you have been looking away from it by deluding yourself into t h i n k i n g y o u r e a b o d y , a m i n d . A n d t h e n y o u s e e y o u r s e l f a s a l l b e i n g n e s s . Y o u b e c o m e e v e r y person, every animal, every insect, every atom in the universe. You discover that the beingness of the u n i v e r s e i s o n l y y o u r b e i n g n e s s . I t s h e r e ; I t s h e r e r i g h t n o w !S o s t o p l o o k i n g a w a y f r o mI t . Q u i e t t h e m i n d . T h e I t h a t I a mi s t h e r e . T h e r e s n o t h i n g c l o s e r t o y o u t h a n t h i s . S t o p s e e k i n g I t o u t t h e r e , t h r o u g h a b o d y . I t i s n t o u t t h e r e . T h e I i n h e r e , t h i s i s t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g . And when you hold only this question, it is not easy and therefore I suggest holding it all the time. G e t i n t h e h a b i t o f a l w a y s s e e k i n g w h a t y o u a r e , n o m a t t e r w h a t m e t h o d y o u r e u s i n g . A n d w h e n
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q u i e t n e s s o f m i n d c o m e s , t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t t h e r e s n o o t h e r t h o u g h t o n y o u r m i n d b u t Wh a t a mI ? t h i s s t i l l i n g o f a l l t h e o t h e r t h o u g h t s m a k e s y o u r S e l f o b v i o u s t o y o u . I t s r i g h t t h e r e w h e r e y o u a r e , w h e r e v e r y o u a r e r i g h t w h e r e t h e I i s . S o a g a i n , h o l d t h i s q u e s t i o n n o m a t t e r w h a t m e t h o d y o u u s e u n t i l t h e a n s w e r s h o w s i t s e l f , u n t i l it becomes obvious. Q: It seems very hard. Lester: It is hard. It is hard to let go of the habit of thinking every moment that you are a limited body. We bombard ourselves with the thought: I am a body; I am a body; I am a body. This goes on a l l t h e t i m e s o t h a t w e d o n t s e e t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t w e a r e . I t s a c o n s t a n t b o m b a r d m e n t o f : I a ma body with involvement. Meditation is an attempt to quiet the mind by holding one thought so that other thoughts die away. B y h o l d i n g t h a t o n e t h o u g h t i f w e c a n g e t t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e j u s t t h a t o n e t h o u g h t i s t h e r e t h a t s e n o u g h q u i e t i n g t o s e e t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t w e a r e . T h e r e i s n t a m e t h o d t h a t d o e s n t t r y t o e f f e c t t h e quieting of the mind so that the infinite Being that we are can become self-obvious. Q : Wh e n y o u s a y s e l f o b v i o u s , w h a t d o e s y o u r r e a l S e l f f e e l l i k e ? Lester: When you get toward the end, as Vivekananda said, you see that there never was anything b u t I a l l a l o n g . N o w , i f t h e r e s n o t h i n g b u t I a l l a l o n e , t h e n I a me v e r y t h i n g , e v e r y o n e . Y o u look upon every other body as equally as your body. You see everyone as you; just as you see your body as you, you see everyone as you. T h e f e e l i n g i s i n d e s c r i b a b l e . I t s s u c h a n i n t e n s e e x p e r i e n c e , f a r b e y o n d a n y t h i n g t h a t l i m i t a t i o n t o d a y w i l l a l l o w , t h a t y o u l l n e v e r k n o wi t w i t h o u t e x p e r i e n c i n g i t . B u t , f r o mt h e l e v e l w h e r e w e a r e , i t s t h e t h i n g w e c a l l h a p p i n e s s . I t s j o y u n l i m i t e d i n f i n i t e j o y . A t f i r s t i t c o m e s o n a s a n e l a t i o n ; i t s o v e r w h e l m i n g ; i t s h a r d t o c o n t a i n ; i t g e t s t o b e u n c o m f o r t a b l e . Y o u g e t s l a p h a p p y , p u n c h d r u n k , e c s t a t i c ; i t g e t s t o b e a n n o y i n g . A n d t h e n y o u w o r k a t i t u n t i l i t f a l l s a w a y a n d w h a t s l e f t i s a v e r y d e e p , p r o f o u n d , d e l e c t a b l e p e a c e . I t s a p e a c e t h a t i s s o m u c h b e t t e r t h a n t h e e x t r e m e j o y t h a t y o u h a d b e f o r e , t h a t y o u d o n t l o o k f o r t h a t j o y a n y m o r e . T h e j o y s t a t e i s n o t t h e u l t i m a t e ; t h e u l t i m a t e i s t h e peace state. Every one of us can get a taste of it at times. Q : T h e n i t s p o s s i b l e t o c o m e a c r o s s t h i s a n d t h e n l o s e i t ? Lester: Oh yes. Many people do. The first time we really drop into it, we are not able to maintain i t b e c a u s e t h e h a b i t o f t h i n k i n g t a k e s o v e r a g a i n . A n d t h e m o m e n t w e r e t h i n k i n g , w e a r e l i m i t e d . Every thought must be a think of limitation. L e t g o o f t h e g a m e o f b e i n g l i m i t e d ; l e t g o o f t h e w o r l d . D o n t t r y t o c o n t r o l i t . D o n t t r y t o e n j o y it. Take all your joy from within. Then, what was formerly the game assumes a sameness picture. Everything becomes the same. If everything is the same, and it is in the Absolute Truth, where can t h e r e b e a g a m e ?I f y o u g e t c a u g h t u p i n a g a m e , y o u r e c a u g h t u p i n a n e t e r n a l i l l u s i o n . T h e g a m e w i l l n e v e r e n d . A n d i f y o u r e i n t h e g a m e , y o u r e a w a y f r o my o u r i n f i n i t e B e i n g n e s s . T h e r e i s a l w a y s a certain limitation in the game that will always keep you from being fully satisfied. So there is a step above the game of playing we are bodies and that step is where everything b e c o m e s e x a c t l y t h e s a m e . A n d t h a t e x a c t s a m e n e s s i s o n l y y o u , y o u r b e i n g n e s s . T h e r e s a n i n f i n i t e O n e n e s s l e f t a n d t h a t i n f i n i t e O n e n e s s i s y o u a n d i s y o u r b e i n g n e s s . I t s b e i n g n e s s b e i n g a l l b e i n g n e s s . A n d t h e r e s n o s e p a r a t i o n ; t h e r e s o n l y b e i n g n e s s , b e i n g a l l b e i n g n e s s . Now, of course, it takes experiencing it to really know what this beingness is. I am convinced that the best description of the top state is Beingness being all Beingness. Q: How can I increase my desire for It?
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Lester: Only you can do it. No one can do it for you. This is the unique thing about it. You have to do it. T h e g r a c e w e h e a r o f i s a l w a y s e x i s t i n g . I t s t h e i n n e r b e i n g n e s s t h a t w e a r e m a k i n g u s u n c o m f o r t a b l e u n t i l w e r e e s t a b l i s h t h e o r i g i n a l s t a t e . D e s i r e f o r h a p p i n e s s i s t h e g r a c e . I t s a l w a y s there. All we need to do is to recognize it and take it. Q : H o wd o e s G o d g e t m a d e i n t o m a n ?I s n t i t s o m e h o ws a c r i l e g i o u s t o t r y t o c h a n g e b a c k ? L e s t e r : N o . A n y o n e w h o t e l l s y o u t h a t d o e s n t w a n t y o u t o a t t a i n t h e t o p s t a t e . B u t i t h a p p e n s t h i s w a y : I t s l i k e g o i n g t o s l e e p a t n i g h t . Y o u d r e a my o u r e b o r n e i n t o a l i t t l e i n f a n t b o d y ; t h e n y o u a r e a week old, a year old; then twenty, then forty; and you dream you have problems and problems and problems. Remember, this is only a night dream. This goes on and on, and you get so tired that you dream the body dies. Then you wake up. Where did you ever change yourself while in that dream? Y o u d i d n t !Y o u s a y i t n e v e r w a s ; i t w a s a l l c o n c o c t e d i n t h e m i n d . T h a t s e x a c t l y h o ww e d o i t i n t h i s s t a t e w e c a l l Wa k i n g . I n T r u t h , t h i s w a k i n g s t a t e i s a s l e e p state. We are totally asleep to the reality of this infinite Beingness that we are. We are no more awake to the Truth right now than when we are asleep at night. We are just dreaming that we are awake. A c t u a l l y t h i s i s a s l e e p s t a t e t h a t w e n e e d t o a w a k e n f r o m , a n d w h e n w e d o , t h e n w e s a y , O h , m y g o s h , i t n e v e r w a s !I n e v e r w a s a l i m i t e d b o d y !I w a s a l w a y s t h a t i n f i n i t e B e i n g t h a t I a m ! S o w e m e n t a l l y c r e a t e a d r e a mc a l l e d t h e Wa k i n g s t a t e o f t h e w o r l d . H o w e v e r , i t s j u s t a d r e a m i l l u s i o n . B u t t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t i t s a d r e a m , y o u m u s t w a k e u p o u t o f t h i s s t a t e . D o e s t h a t m a k e s e n s e ? S o t h e a n s w e r t o H o wd i d w e d o t h i s ? i s t h a t w e a r e d r e a m i n g i t ! Q: Deliberately? Lester: Yes. Deliberately. You see, we start off as infinite Beings in a passive way. We go to the b o t t o m t h a t s w h e r e w e a r e r i g h t n o w t h e n g o b a c k t o t h e t o p a n d a g a i n s e e o u r i n f i n i t y . B u t a f t e r g o i n g t h r o u g h t h a t , t h e r e s a p o s i t i v e k n o w i n g n e s s o f o u r i n f i n i t y , w h e r e a s b e f o r e i t w a s a p a s s i v e knowingness. I t s s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s : P e r f e c t h e a l t h i s a m e a n i n g l e s s t e r mt o s o m e o n e w h o w a s b o r n p e r f e c t l y h e a l t h y a n d s t a y s t h a t w a y a l l h i s l i f e ; h e d o e s n t p o s i t i v e l y k n o ww h a t i t i s . A n d y e t , i t s a n i c e s t a t e w h e n h e s i n i t . B u t h e s p a s s i v e l y h e a l t h y ; h e c a n n o t f u l l y a p p r e c i a t e i t . H o w e v e r , i f h e g o t v e r y s i c k and was on the verge of dying for many years and then reestablished the perfect-health state, then that perfect health state would be far more meaningful to him than it was before he got sick. And this is the silly thing we do to ourselves: We go from infinity down to where we are and back up to infinity with a positiveness of knowing the infinity that we are. But we pushed, on the way d o w n , i n a w a y t h a t w e l o s t s i g h t o f w h a t w e w e r e d o i n g . A n d i f w e l o o k w i t h i n , w e l l d i s c o v e r t h i s . Q : T h a t s t h e f i r s t t i m e I v e h e a r d a s e n s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e w h o l e m e s s . F i r s t t i m e i t s e v e r b e e n e x p l a i n e d w h y w e v e b e e n p u l l e d d o w n . Lester: OK, now go back up. Q: Is there one person doing this? Lester: There is one Beingness doing this. I think the best example of this is the ocean and the drops. We, the ocean of beingness, imagined little tiny circles around parts of us that we called drops; a n d t h i s d r o p s a y s , I a ms e p a r a t e f r o mt h a t d r o p a n d s e p a r a t e f r o ma l l t h e o t h e r d r o p s . I t s a n imagined circle around part of the ocean calling itself a drop. But actually every drop is the ocean. It h a s a l l t h e q u a l i t i e s o f t h e o c e a n : i t s w e t , i t s s a l t y , i t s H 2 O , a n d s o f o r t h . I t h i n k t h a t e x a m p l e m i g h t m a k e s e n s e . O r , i t s l i k e a c o m b a n d e a c h t o o t h s a y s t o t h e o t h e r , I a ms e p a r a t e f r o my o u . I t s a l l o n e c o m b , a n d w e a r e t h e t e e t h s a y i n g t h a t w e a r e s e p a r a t e , w h e n i n a c t u a l i t y i t s j u s t o n e c o m b .
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R e m e m b e r , y o u a r e t h e o n e i n f i n i t e o c e a n o f B e i n g n e s s . I t i s t h e I t h a t y o u a r e . S e e k I t , s e e I t , a n d forever hold It! ***

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 T h e r e a s o n w h y s o f e wo f u s m a k e i t i s t h a t m o s t o f u s h a v e a s t r o n g e r s u b c o n s c i o u s desire to be a physical body than we have a conscious desire to be a free unlimited b e i n g . Lester Levenson
Session 33 REALIZATION THROUGH DROPPING THE UNCONSCIOUS YOUR BASIC NATURE Our subject is called many things by many schools. I like to call it happiness and that which gives you the ultimate in happiness is the discovery of the Truth. When you come to completely know you, you reach this ultimate joy and with it the peace of satiation. You discover that you are All and that your former worldly search was you trying to find your real self; and that you never could discover the real you then the consequence of which was that you were never satisfied. I h a v e s a i d i t r e p e a t e d l y y o u a r e t h i s t h i n g c a l l e d h a p p i n e s s . Y o u r b a s i c n a t u r e i s i n f i n i t e j o y , f a r beyond anything your mind could comprehend. That is why we are all seeking happiness. We are all trying to return to that wonderful inherent state. However, we do not find it because we are looking away from, rather than toward it. To find it we must look within. There we find that we are infinite Beings. We have no limitation. We have all knowledge. We have all power. And we are omnipresent, here and now. There is no one who does not possess these three things. The difficulty in discovering our purpose and goal in life lies in the fact that because we are infinite, we can make ourselves infinitely small. And this is exactly what we have tried to do. We could not be much more limited than we are right now. In this universe, which is infinite in size, we are at the most extreme end of limitation. We have imagined ourselves, and frozen ourselves, into physical bodies, and because of so many millennia of looking at ourselves as bodies, we have become convinced that we are these physical bodies. B e i n g s a r e c a p a b l e o f s e e i n g a l l r e a l m s t h a t a r e d e n s e r t h a n t h e i r s . I n t h e s u b t l e s t r e a l m , t h e c a u s a l world, beings can perceive the denser astral and physical realms. In the astral world, beings can perceive the denser physical world. And because we in the physical realm cannot see a denser realm, we are in the densest, most limited realm possible.

THE PHYSICAL BODY The physical body being at the extreme end of limitation possible to us, we feel cramped. We hurt. We reach out. We try to express our freedom in the physical world. We try to eliminate time and space, to go faster and further. I am pointing out how far we have gone in accepting limitation since we came into a physical body, and that this is the reason why it is so difficult for most of us to discover the Truth of ourselves, which is: we have no limits. However, there is an advantage to being in this very limited state. Because we are so cramped we have more of a desire to get out of it than we would if we were living in a harmonious heaven where everything was easy and immediately available; where life does not prod us into trying to get liberation. We have a very distinct advantage in being here. We are forced to seek a way out. We are
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trying in many ways and with many methods to get free. No matter what the methods are, they all must end up doing the very same thing: freeing us from our concepts of limitation. The methodology must quiet our mind, must do away with thoughts. Every t h o u g h t i s a c o n c e p t o f l i m i t a t i o n . Wh e n t h o u g h t s a r e u n d o n e , w h a t s l e f t o v e r i s t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g that we are. Unfortunately, we set into motion an automatic way of thinking called the subconscious mind. There, we relegate thoughts to the background and let them operate without needing to pay any attention to them, and we have lost sight of them. In the beginning it was an advantage in operating a physical body, because originally we had to o p e r a t e e v e r y p a r t o f t h e b o d y c o n s c i o u s l y , e v e r y c e l l , e v e r y o r g a n a n d t o e l i m i n a t e a l l t h a t attention, we put it on automatic control via the subconscious mind. And the subconscious mind is the real difficulty when we try to let go of thoughts. It is difficult because we are in the habit of not l o o k i n g a t t h e m . L o o k i n g a t t h e mw e d o n t s e e t h e m . S i n c e w e d o n t s e e t h e mt h e y g o o n a n d o n , lifetime in and lifetime out. In fact, one could say that we are so married to our thoughts that we never e v e n t h i n k o f d i v o r c i n g t h e m . A n d u n t i l w e d o , w e w i l l c o n t i n u e b l i n d l y a t t a c h e d t o p h y s i c a l b o d i e s a n d a s a r e s u l t , h a v i n g a m i s e r a b l e l i f e . F o r e v e r y o u n c e o f p l e a s u r e w e t a k e , w e g e t p o u n d s o f p a i n ; and it must be that way because the pleasure we are trying to get is by seeking our very own Self e x t e r n a l l y i n t h e w o r l d a n d t h r o u g h t h e b o d y , a n d i t j u s t i s n t t h e r e .

BEYOND THE BODY The methods, to be effective, must be in a direction of first quieting our thoughts; then actually getting rid of our thoughts. Make a conscious effort to bring up subconscious thoughts and when they are brought to the conscious plane, drop them. When they do come up, because they are very limiting and very negative as a whole, you want to drop them and you do. After you have dropped an appreciable number of them, then you can drop thoughts in large amounts. To drop thoughts in large amounts requires dropping the tendency or predisposition that has evolved from the accumulated thoughts on that one particular thing. Dropping the tendency or predisposition, one drops all the thoughts that caused that tendency or predisposition. In this way you may, at one time, drop a large accumulation of thoughts. For instance, if one has a tendency to like sweets, one could bring up from the subconscious one thought about one kind of sweet one at a time and continue letting each go until there are no more. As y o u c a n t e l l t h i s t a k e s u s m u c h t i m e !H o w e v e r , i f o n e d r o p s t h e t e n d e n c y i t s e l f , i f o n e e l i m i n a t e s o n e s attachment to all sweets, then all the subconscious thoughts that made up that tendency are dropped, and one is totally free from desiring sweets. Later, you reach a point where you can drop all the remaining thoughts at once, because having infinite power, you will have reached the point where you can see that you have this infinite power and you then can use it to wipe out the rest of the mind. That is why it is sometimes said that Realization is instantaneous. When you get that far that you can see that the power is yours, you wipe out all the r e m a i n i n g t h o u g h t s a t o n c e . T h e n y o u a r e t o t a l l y f r e e ; y o u v e g o n e a l l t h e w a y . When this happens, you do not become a zombie and you do not disappear or go up in a flash of light. What you do is let the body go through that which you preset for it; and when you reach the end of the line of the action for the body, you will leave it with joy. You will leave it just the way you leave and let go of an old, worn-out overcoat. You will never die. People around you might say so, but to yourself, you do not die. You consciously drop the body the way you would drop an old, worn-out overcoat. But, again, you will not do this until you run the course that you preset for it. Now, I tell you this so you will not be fearful of dying if you get Realization.
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So, attaining the ultimate state is not disappearing into a nothingness. It is moving out into your omnipresence and letting go of confinement to only a physical body.

THE VALUE OF DESIRE Now, to do this you must have a strong desire to do it. The only thing that keeps you from being the infinite Being that you are is your desire to be a limited physical body. When your desire shifts into w a n t i n g t o g e t f r e e o f t h e e x t r e m e l i m i t a t i o n , i t s a s t a r t ; b u t t o g o a l l t h e w a y y o u m u s t h a v e a d e s i r e t o be totally free, that is more intense than your desire to be a physical body. The reason why so few of us do make it, is that most of us have a stronger subconscious desire to be a physical body than we have a conscious desire to be a free unlimited Being. Until you confront this and see what your desire really is, it is impossible to achieve total Freedom, total Realization. You should dig into the subconscious to bring up your desires, because unless you see them, you cannot let go of them. The only reason why you are limited to the physical body is that subconsciously, you have a strong desire to be this limited physical body. When your conscious desire to be free becomes stronger than your subconscious desire to be a physical body, then you will quickly achieve your Freedom. And therein lies your ultimate happiness. I t h i n k t h a t i s a n o v e r a l l p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e s u b j e c t . N o w , i f y o u h a v e a n y q u e s t i o n s I d b e v e r y happy to do what I can to answer them.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: How do you dig into your subconscious? L e s t e r : G o o d q u e s t i o n . Y o u d o i t b y f i r s t , w a n t i n g t o d o i t . I t s v e r y d i f f i c u l t w h e n y o u b e g i n , b u t as you do it, the more you do it the easier it becomes. You can actually reach a place where it becomes easy. Practice will do it. By practicing bringing up subconscious thoughts, the more you do it, the m o r e y o u r e a b l e t o d o i t . T h e r e a r e m a n y a i d s t o d o i n g i t . I n t h e b o o k T h e E t e r n a l V e r i t i e s , t h e r e a r e w a y s a n d a i d s l i k e : G e t t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e n o o n e a n d n o t h i n g c a n d i s t u r b y o u . Wh e n s o m e o n e d i s t u r b s y o u a n d y o u d o n t know why, the thought is subconscious. Bring up the thought. By constant trying you will develop the h a b i t o f a c t u a l l y g e t t i n g i t u p ; y o u l l s e e t h a t t h e r e s a l i m i t i n g t h o u g h t , a n e g o o r s e l f i s h m o t i v a t i o n b e h i n d i t a n d y o u l l d r o p i t . Q: Is just seeing the subconscious thought or motivation enough? Lester: Just looking at it is not enough. You must consciously drop the thought or consciously will o u t t h e t e n d e n c y o r m o t i v a t i o n . I ma s s u m i n g y o u l l w a n t t o l e t g o o f t h e s e t h o u g h t s b e c a u s e t h e y r e all limiting and negative. O n e r e a s o n w h y w e d o n t l i k e t o d i g t h e mu p i s t h a t w e d o n t l i k e t o s e e h o wa w f u l w e a r e . B u t t h e r e s n o t h i n g g o o d o r b a d ; t h e r e s j u s t m o v i n g i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n o r t h e w r o n g d i r e c t i o n . Wh e n w e m o v e i n t h e w r o n g d i r e c t i o n , w e m o v e t o w a r d m o r e l i m i t a t i o n a n d t h a t s r e a l l y s o c a l l e d b a d . B u t e v e r y t h i n g i s e x p e r i e n c i n g . A n d w h e n w e d o n t j u d g e o u r s e l v e s , w e m o v e m u c h f a s t e r . Q : Wh e n w e d o n t j u d g e o u r s e l v e s ? L e s t e r : R i g h t , w h e n w e d o n t j u d g e o u r s e l v e s . Wh a t e v e r c o m e s u p s o w h a t ?T o g e t t h i s f a r i n y o u r l i m i t a t i o n s , y o u h a v e r u n t h e g a m u t o f e v e r y t h i n g b a d . I t l l c o m e u p , b u t i t s f r o mp a s t e x p e r i e n c i n g . A l s o , w h e n y o u w a k e u p y o u l l d i s c o v e r t h a t y o u n e v e r e v e r w e r e a p a r t f r o my o u r r e a l
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Self, which is whole, perfect, complete, unlimited; that all these experiences were images in your mind j u s t l i k e i n a n i g h t d r e a my o u i m a g i n e e v e r y t h i n g t h a t s g o i n g o n . B u t w h i l e y o u r e i n a n i g h t d r e a m , i t s r e a l t o y o u . I f s o m e o n e i s t r y i n g t o k i l l y o u i n a n i g h t d r e a m , i t s r e a l ; y o u r e s t r u g g l i n g f o r y o u r l i f e . B u t w h e n y o u w a k e u p f r o mt h a t d r e a m , w h a t d o y o u s a y ? I t w a s j u s t a d r e a m ; i t w a s m y i m a g i n a t i o n . T h i s w a k i n g s t a t e i s e x a c t l y a s r e a l a s a n i g h t d r e a m . We r e a l l d r e a m i n g w e a r e p h y s i c a l b o d i e s ; w e r e d r e a m i n g t h e w h o l e t h i n g . H o w e v e r , i n o r d e r t o r e a c h t h i s a w a k e n e d s t a t e , i t i s first necessary to drop a major part of your subconscious thinking. Q: How do you see it when you come back after realizing it is a dream? L e s t e r : Y o u s e e i t l i k e y o u n o ws e e a d r e a my o u h a d l a s t n i g h t . Y o u s e e i t a s a d r e a m , a n d t h a t s how important it remains to you. The before and after picture is simply point of view: before you thought you were limited to a body and all these bodies and action were so real; after, you see it as a dream, like a moving picture. When you see characters on the screen you can lose your awareness of y o u r s e l f b y i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h o n e o f t h e c h a r a c t e r s o n t h e s c r e e n a n d y o u l l e m o t e w i t h h i ma n d f e e l unhappy. Q : B u t d o n t h a v e a l l t h e d e s i r e s t h a t y o u h a d b e f o r e ? L e s t e r : Y o u h a v e n o d e s i r e s b e c a u s e y o u w a k e u p t o t h e f a c t t h a t y o u a r e i n f i n i t e , y o u a r e t h e A l l t h e r e s n o t h i n g t o d e s i r e . D e s i r e l i m i t s y o u : I d o n t h a v e t h e A l l , t h e r e f o r e I m u s t g e t i t a n d I c r e a t e d e s i r e s t o g e t i t . S o d e s i r e i s o n l y a l i m i t a t i o n . Wh e n y o u s e e t h e f u l l p i c t u r e y o u n a t u r a l l y l o s e a l l d e s i r e ; t h e r e s n o t h i n g t o d e s i r e i f y o u a r e t h e A l l . Now, practically speaking if you choose to go along with the dream you can act out a desire for the t i m e b e i n g , a n d t h e n a c t a s t h o u g h i t s b e i n g s a t i s f i e d . H o w e v e r , i t s j u s t a n a c t a n d y o u p l a y a c t . Q: How does the mind distinguish between bad and good? L e s t e r : B y s a y i n g , T h i s i s g o o d a n d t h a t i s b a d . Q: Is that an individual thing? L e s t e r : O f c o u r s e . Wh a t s r i g h t i n o n e c o u n t r y i s w r o n g i n a n o t h e r ; w h a t s r i g h t t o y o u i s w r o n g t o s o m e o n e e l s e . I t s a v e r y i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c a p p r o a c h . O f c o u r s e , t h e r e s s o m e g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t o n r i g h t a n d w r o n g ; w e g e n e r a l l y a g r e e w e s h o u l d n t k i l l e a c h o t h e r . S o r i g h t a n d w r o n g i s a v e r y individualistic standard. If you need a right and wrong, doing that which helps your growth is right; doing that which hinders your growth is wrong. That should be the right and wrong. Q: Do we learn the right from experiencing? Lester: Yes, you learn the right by doing the wrong. And also by experiencing the right. Unfortunately, most of us do it by actually doing the wrong thing. We learn to keep our hand out of a f i r e b y b u r n i n g i t . T h i s i s w h a t s e e m s t o p r o d u s m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e t h e h a r d s h i p s o f l i f e . We a l l w a n t t o g e t a w a y f r o mt h e m i s e r y o f i t , d o n t w e ?I t s h o u l d b e t h e o t h e r w a y , t h a t t h e wonderfulness of the right way should be the attractiveness of it. When you do get that far, then your g r o w t h i s v e r y f a s t a n d y o u r e a p p r o a c h i n g t h e e n d o f t h e l i n e . Q : Wh a t d i d y o u m e a n b y A f t e r y o u r e R e a l i z e d , y o u l i v e y o u r l i f e a s y o u p r e s e t i t ? Wh a t d o e s that mean? Lester: We preset the behavior of this physical body before we enter it to put us through experiences that we hope to learn from. Q: Knowing that you would attain Realization this time?
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Lester: No. Knowing that in past lives you subjected yourself to the law of action and reaction, c a u s e a n d e f f e c t , k a r m a ( t h e y r e a l l t h e s a m e t h i n g ) , a n d t h a t y o u w a n t t o c o n t i n u e t h a t g a m e . Y o u d i d certain things when you were in a physical body before, so next time you want to set up similar things i n a h o p e o f u n d o i n g s o m e o f t h e t h i n g s y o u d o n t l i k e , i n s t i g a t i n g t h e t h i n g s y o u d o l i k e . B u t y o u c a n n o t c h a n g e a n y t h i n g t h a t t h e b o d y w a s p r e s e t t o d o b y y o u . Y o u r e g o i n g t o d o e x a c t l y w h a t y o u preset for that body before you came into it. There is no free will in worldly living. However, there is a free will. The free will we have is to identify with the real Being that we are, or to identify with the b o d y . I f y o u i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e b o d y , y o u r e i n t r o u b l e . S o t h e f r e e w i l l i s o n e o f i d e n t i t y . K n o w i n g t h i s , i t m a k e s l i f e m u c h e a s i e r ; y o u d o n t f i g h t i t . Y o u a i mf o r p r o p e r i d e n t i t y . Q: The desire for bliss, would that be enough to start your search for happiness? Lester: Sure. Q : I f o n e i s s i n c e r e a n d i s n t s u c c e e d i n g , w i l l a G u r u h e l p t h e m ? L e s t e r : Ar e a l i z e d T e a c h e r i s t h e g r e a t e s t o f a l l h e l p ; b u t H e c a n t h e l p y o u a n y m o r e t h a n y o u w i l l help yourself. This is most important: He cannot help you any more than you will help yourself. Wh e n y o u t r y t o h e l p y o u r s e l f , H e j o i n s y o u a n d h e l p s y o u t o a r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t y o u r e r e a d y f o r . Q: He helps? L e s t e r : H e o r s h e h e l p s y o u g e t a r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t y o u r e r e a d y f o r . I f y o u r e t a p p e d o n t h e c h e s t a n d y o u g e t c o s m i c c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i t s b e c a u s e y o u r e r e a d y f o r i t . O f a l l h e l p , a G u r u s i s t h e g r e a t e s t because He has gone the direction and He can help you go the same direction. Q: How is it that when you see the dream structure of maya and you see the real Self, then all of a s u d d e n y o u r e c a u g h t i n t h e d r e a ma g a i n a n d y o u b e l i e v e i t ?Wh a t h a p p e n e d ? Lester: It is possible to see your real Self and fall back into the world. Why? Because you have not l e t g o o f t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s t h o u g h t I a mt h i s p h y s i c a l b o d y ; t h i s w o r l d i s r e a l . Y o u m u s t g o i n t o y o u r subconscious and make conscious all these thoughts and keep them. Or, see your Self to the degree that you see that your mind is external to you, something that you created, and then you just wipe it o u t . I f y o u c a n t w i p e i t o u t , a n d v e r y f e wo f u s c a n , k e e p p i c k i n g a w a y a t i t ; k e e p b r i n g i n g u p t h e subconscious thoughts and dropping them. Or, you can make it ineffective in large chunks by willing o u t t e n d e n c i e s . T a k e a p a r t i c u l a r t e n d e n c y l i k e s m o k i n g . I f y o u v e b e e n s m o k i n g f o r y e a r s a n d y e a r s , you have thousands of little desires to smoke. The tendency is strong. However, you can say to y o u r s e l f w i t h w i l l p o w e r , T h i s i s r i d i c u l o u s !I a mt h r o u g h w i t h t h i s ! a n d n e v e r a g a i n h a v e a d e s i r e f o r a c i g a r e t t e . T h a t s g e t t i n g r i d o f a l l t h e t h o u g h t s o f d e s i r e t o s m o k e b y w i l l i n g o u t t h e t e n d e n c y . T h a t s o n e c h u n k : s m o k i n g . Q : T h a t s o n e c h u n k ; t h e w h o l e t h i n g c l e a r b a c k ? L e s t e r : C o m p l e t e . I v e s e e n m a n y p e o p l e d o t h i s o n s m o k i n g w i t h n o p r o b l e m . T h e y j u s t m a d e that decision and that was it! Q : A n d t h a t s h o wy o u g e t r i d o f e a c h t h i n g t h a t s b o t h e r i n g y o u ? L e s t e r : Y e s . I f y o u r e j e a l o u s , l o o k a t i t . I f y o u r e d i s g u s t e d e n o u g h w i t h b e i n g j e a l o u s y o u s a y , F i n i s h e d !D o n e !I t i s g o n e ! a n d y o u c a n u n d o t h e w h o l e t h i n g . T h a t s l e t t i n g g o o f a h u g e p i e c e o f m i n d . T h a t s l e t t i n g g o o f m a n y , m a n y t h o u g h t s o f j e a l o u s y t h a t y o u v e h a d i n t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m i n d . It takes some maturity to undo that tendency. Q : A n d i t w o n t c o m e b a c k i f y o u r e a l l y d o ?
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L e s t e r : R i g h t . I f y o u , w i t h r e s o l v e a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n , r e a l l y d r o p i t , i t s g o n e . You can try it on smaller things first, and when you succeed then go to something larger. Do it on one thing. Then you can do it on two, then on all. Do that which you can do. Keep doing this every d a y a n d i t w o n t t a k e y o u l o n g . Ma k e t h i s a w a y o f l i f e . G r o we v e r y d a y . E v e r y i n c i d e n t i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r g r o w t h . E v e r y t h i n g y o u r e e x p e r i e n c i n g i s a n e x p e r i e n c e o f limitation. Every annoyance you have is an excellent opportunity to transcend that. Develop the habit of digging into your subconscious for the causative thought of the annoyance and then dropping it. Daily striving assures quick arriving. ***

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 T h o s e w h o d i d g o a l l t h e w a y , t h e y d i d n o t a b a n d o n t h e i r b o d i e s , h o m e s a n d f a m i l i e s . They only abandoned their former feelings of bondage and attachment to their bodies, h o m e s a n d f a m i l i e s , a n d i n p l a c e o f i t f e l t f r e e . Lester Levenson
Session 34 WHY NOT GO ALL THE WAY? You have been given the direction and some tips on how to go all the way. The question is, is it e n t i c i n g e n o u g h ?I s i t p r o m i s i n g e n o u g h ?C a n y o u g o a l l t h e w a y ?L e t s g e t r i g h t t o i t !

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q : We l l , I d l i k e t o g o a l l t h e w a y , b u t i t s a l w a y s o v e r t h e n e x t h i l l . I g e t t o t h i s p o i n t a n d i t s n o t t h e r e ; a n d I g e t t o t h e n e x t o n e a n d i t s n o t t h e r e . L e s t e r : N o t r e a l l y , b e c a u s e i t s r i g h t w h e r e y o u a r e . O v e r t h e n e x t h i l l i s w h e r e i t i s n t . R i g h t w h e r e y o u a r e , w h e r e t h e I o f y o u i s , i s w h e r e i t i s . Q : H o wc o m e w e d o n t k n o wi t ? L e s t e r : Y e s , h o wc o m e ?T h a t s w h a t I w a n t t o k n o w . Q: That was my question. L e s t e r : Y e s , b u t w h a t i s t h e a n s w e r ?I s a y i t s s i l l y n o t t o , b e c a u s e o n c e y o u d o , y o u l l n e v e r , e v e r h a v e a m o m e n t o f u n p l e a s a n t n e s s , e v e r a g a i n . I t b e c o m e s i m p o s s i b l e t o b e u n h a p p y . Wh a t s w r o n g w i t h t h a t ?Wh y d o n t w e d o i t ? I w o u l d s a y y o u d o n t b e l i e v e i t e n o u g h . Y o u d o n t b e l i e v e t h a t y o u h a v e n o l i m i t s ; y o u d o n t b e l i e v e t h a t l i f e c a n b e , e v e r y s e c o n d , e c s t a t i c a l l y h a p p y ; y o u d o n t b e l i e v e t h a t i t c a n b e t o t a l l y e f f o r t l e s s ; y o u d o n t b e l i e v e t h a t y o u c a n d o t h i n g s m e n t a l l y . Or, is it that we keep procrastinating? I say that if we really do want to go all the way, we do it. So, a g a i n , w h y d o n t w e g o a l l t h e w a y ? Q : We l l , I t h i n k , i n m y c a s e , I v e p r o b a b l y h y p n o t i z e d m y s e l f i n t o b e l i e v i n g t h e o p p o s i t e . I v e associated with the finite me all my life, in all my conscious awareness, to the degree that it is real to me. Lester: Oh, then to you the Infinite would do away with finite? Q : Y e s . B e c a u s e t h e f i n i t e i s w h a t I b e l i e v e i n ; i t s r e a l t o m e . Wh a t y o u s a y a b o u t t h e I n f i n i t e h a s i n f i n i t e p o s s i b i l i t i e s b u t u n t i l I c a n t o t a l l y a c c e p t t h a t , i t s l i k e w h e n y o u t o u c h a l i g h t b u l b a n d i t b u r n s y o u a n d s o m e b o d y s a y s , N o wt o u c h i t a n d i t w o n t b u r n y o u ; i t s d i f f i c u l t t o o v e r c o m e y o u r subconscious reaction not to touch it. Lester: Well, let me tell you then, that the Infinite includes the finite, and is the basis for it. You s e e , y o u c a n h o l d o n t o a l l t h e f i n i t e y o u w a n t w h e n y o u r e i n f i n i t e ; y o u d o n t h a v e t o l o s e a t h i n g . Q : T h e n , I d b e g l a d t o g i v e i t u p f o r t h e I n f i n i t e .
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L e s t e r : G i v e i t u p ?Ma y b e t h i s i s w h a t s b o t h e r i n g u s ; t h a t w e r e a f r a i d t h a t w e r e g o i n g t o g i v e u p o u r b o d i e s ; t h a t w e r e g o i n g t o g i v e u p o u r f a m i l i e s a n d h o m e s . I t d o e s n t h a p p e n t h a t w a y . Wh e n those who did go all the way achieved it, they did not abandon their bodies, homes and families. They only abandoned their former feelings of bondage and attachment to their bodies, homes and families, and in place of it felt free. Q : I f t h e r e s h a p p i n e s s g r e a t e r t h a n w h a t I v e e x p e r i e n c e d i n a b o d y , t o h e c k w i t h t h i s ! Lester: Well, again, you do not give up your body. Your happiness gets more intense the more you m o v e t o w a r d t o t a l f r e e d o m , u n t i l i t r e a c h e s a p o i n t w h e r e y o u j u s t c a n t c o n t a i n i t a n y m o r e . T h e n y o u resolve it into a very beautiful peace that is never, ever again disturbed. And that peace is really far m o r e d e l i c i o u s t h a n t h e i n t e n s e j o y w a s . A n d t h e n , w h e n y o u c h o o s e t o b e a c t i v e i n t h e w o r l d , y o u l l never, ever lose that background peace; you will feel it all the time. And you are free to do anything in the world; you can act angry, scared; be poor or rich; you can do anything you want; but you do not disappear. Q : I t d o e s n t a f f e c t y o u ? Lester: The world can never, never touch you again, because you have imperturbable peace. Q: I understand. L e s t e r : S o t h e n , w h y d o n t y o u c o m e a l o n g ? Q: Whenever I identify my source of income with the effort I exert in my business, I say to myself, Y o u r e a s t u p i d i d i o t . T h i s i s n t t h e s o u r c e o f m y i n f i n i t e s u p p l y . H o w e v e r , I mn o t s t r o n g e n o u g h t o j u s t s a y , We l l , t h i s i s n t i t ; I l l d o i t t h e o t h e r w a y , b e c a u s e I t h i n k , Wh a t i f i t d o e s n t w o r k ? Lester: You would have exactly what you had before you tried it. However, you expect it not to work if you say that. Q : Y e s , b u t t h a t s w h e r e t h e h a n g u p i s . Ma y b e i t s a l a c k o f f a i t h , n o t t h a t i t h a s n t w o r k e d f o r y o u , b u t w h e t h e r i t l l w o r k f o r m e , I a mn o t c o n v i n c e d . I f y o u c o u l d o n l y h e l p m e , j u s t o n e l i t t l e infinite bit of strength that you could give me... L e s t e r : O h , n o ww a i t a m i n u t e ; y o u h a v e t h e s u p p o r t a n d I v e g i v e n y o u m a n y d i r e c t i o n s , a n y o n e of which would take you all the way. I could give them to you again. Q : T h a t s l i k e t h e s i g n S a n F r a n c i s c o . I l l b e t t h e r e a r e p r o b a b l y a h u n d r e d s i g n s t h a t p o i n t t h e way to San Francisco; but if I get to the sign and sit down underneath it, it would take more than just k n o w i n g w h e r e S a n F r a n c i s c o i s , a n d t h a t s w h e r e I b o g d o w n . L e s t e r : R i g h t , y o u d o n t t a k e t h e d i r e c t i o n ; y o u l o o k a t i t a n d s i t d o w n . N o w , t h e d i r e c t i o n : G e t t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e n o o n e a n d n o t h i n g c a n d i s t u r b y o u w o u l d h a v e t a k e n y o u a l l t h e w a y . Q : Y e s , b u t t h a t s l i k e g o i n g t o t h e m o o n . L e s t e r : I t i s e a s y i f y o u w o u l d d o i t . I t i s y o u r d e c i s i o n t o b e d i s t u r b e d o r n o t t o b e d i s t u r b e d . Q : T h a t s q u i t e a c h a l l e n g e ! L e s t e r : D o y o u w a n t m o r e ?I l l g i v e y o u n e wo n e s . Q: Yes. Lester: Be totally selfless. Be interested only in others; have no interest in yourself. That would take you all the way. If we would be totally selfless in our behavior, act not for ourselves but for the
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o t h e r o n e s t h i s w o u l d d o i t r a p i d l y . Q : I d o n t m e a n t o b e a r g u m e n t a t i v e , b u t t h i s i s r e a l l y n i t t y g r i t t y . L e s t e r : I l l g i v e y o u a n o t h e r o n e : G e t t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e y o u h a v e n o m o r e d e s i r e ; k e e p l e t t i n g g o o f d e s i r e s u n t i l t h e r e a r e n o m o r e a n d t h a t s i t !Y o u d o n t l i k e t h a t o n e e i t h e r , d o y o u ? Q : We l l , p a r t o f i t . I v e g o t a l o t o f t h i n g s I d l i k e t o l e t g o o f . L e s t e r : I f a n y o n e w o u l d c a r r y t h a t t h r o u g h u n t i l t h e r e a r e n o m o r e d e s i r e s a n d i t s j u s t l e t t i n g g o o f t h e ma s t h e y c o m e u p y o u d g o a l l t h e w a y . Q: Lester, what about the one that you and I discussed, about the mind? You see everything out t h e r e i n y o u r m i n d , r i g h t ?S o t h a t s w h e r e e v e r y t h i n g i s . S o , t h a t t h i n g o u t t h e r e i s j u s t y o u r m i n d . When you discover this, you change your mind and it changes out there. Lester: Yes, that would take you there. Q: What about no attachments and no aversions? L e s t e r : T h a t w i l l d o i t t o o . T h a t w i l l t a k e y o u a l l t h e w a y . B u t w h y h a v e n t w e u s e d t h e s e t h i n g s ? They are not new to us. Q : T h a t s w h a t I me a r n e s t l y t r y i n g t o d e c i d e f o r m y s e l f . T h i s i s r i d i c u l o u s ; a l l t h i s i n t e l l e c t u a l k n o w l e d g e t h a t I v e a c q u i r e d a n d w h a t l i t t l e I v e a c t u a l l y d o n e w i t h i t . I t s a l a r m i n g . I v e a s k e d , H o wm a n y p e o p l e h a v e t h e i r o w n p r i v a t e Ma s t e r i n t h e i r f a m i l y . Y o u v e g i v e n u s a l l t h i s s t u f f a n d I s a y I t s m y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w h a t I d o w i t h i t ; w h y h a v e n t I u s e d i t ? Lester: Yes, and your private Master is you! This is important: Your private Master is you! Q : I s n t t h e r e o n l y O n e a n y w a y ? L e s t e r : Wh e n y o u s e e w h a t y o u r e a l l y a r e , y o u l l s e e t h e O n e n e s s a n d n o m o r e o t h e r n e s s . Q: I try to squint, and no matter how I do it, I still see separation. L e s t e r : T h a t s t h e w a y y o u a r e a p p r o a c h i n g i t , w i t h s q u i n t y e y e s ; y o u w o n t l o o k a t i t f u l l v i e w , w i d e o p e n , b e c a u s e y o u a r e a f r a i d y o u r e g o i n g t o d i s a p p e a r . S o w h a t y o u h a v e t o d o i s d i g d o w n w i t h i n , p u l l i t o u t a n d s e e i t . O n c e y o u s e e i t , y o u l l n a t u r a l l y l e t g o o f t h a t f e a r . Y o u r e a l s o a f r a i d y o u r e g o i n g t o l o s e y o u r i n d i v i d u a l i t y . Y o u r i n d i v i d u a l i t y i s s o m e t h i n g y o u l l n e v e r , e v e r l o s e . I t s w i t h y o u t h r o u g h e t e r n i t y . T h e I t h a t I a m , i s n e v e r , e v e r l o s t . Wh a t h a p p e n s i s t h a t w e j u s t e x p a n d it to include more and more until it includes the entire infinity. I s a y y o u r e m o r e a f r a i d o f l o s i n g y o u r s e l f , y o u r b o d y , y o u r m i n d , y o u r f a m i l y , y o u r b u s i n e s s , a n d a l l y o u r l i t t l e t h i n g s ; y o u r e s u b c o n s c i o u s l y a f r a i d y o u r e g o i n g t o l o s e t h e m . I f i t w e r e c o n s c i o u s , y o u d l o o k a t i t , d r o p i t , a n d b e f r e e . Q : We l l , y o u r e a c h e d m e w h e n y o u a d d e d t h o s e o t h e r t h i n g s . T h e p h y s i c a l b o d y a t t a c h m e n t I d o n t see, but when you included my family and my business and these other things... Lester: Do you want me to show you how attached you are to that physical body? Just imagine, d o n t d o i t , b u t j u s t i m a g e t h r o w i n g y o u r b o d y o v e r a c l i f f . C a n y o u n o ws e e y o u r a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e body? Q: Yes. But do you have to have that desire to get rid of it? L e s t e r : Y o u d o n t g e t r i d o f i t ; y o u s e e w h a t y o u a r e a n d t h e n y o u l l s e e t h a t y o u a r e n o t t h e b o d y , that the body is one infinitesimal part of you.
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Q : Wh y c a n t I g o a l l t h e w a y ? L e s t e r : B e c a u s e y o u r e a f r a i d t h a t i f y o u d o , y o u r e g o i n g t o d i s a p p e a r . D o e s a n y o n e f e e l t h a t ? T h a t y o u l l d i s a p p e a r i f y o u g o a l l t h e w a y ? Q : I ma f r a i d I d l o s e m y m i n d . Lester: You actually do lose your mind, and then you reestablish it so that you can communicate. I t s f a r m o r e d i f f i c u l t t o r e e s t a b l i s h t h e m i n d t h a n i t w a s o r i g i n a l l y t o l e t g o o f i t b e c a u s e t h e m i n d i t s e l f w a s s u c h a c l a m p i n g d o w n o f y o u , y o u d o n t w a n t t o c o m e b a c k t o i t . B u t y o u w i l l ; y o u l l s t a r t thinking again. The only difference in the before and after picture is that now your thinking is unfree, determined by subconscious, compulsive thoughts; in the after picture there are no more subconscious, compulsive thoughts. Every thought is totally free and without any conditioning by your tendencies and predispositions. That leads me to another great one: Rid yourself of all your tendencies and predispositions, and you will go all the way. I h a v e n e v e r t a l k e d m u c h a b o u t m i r a c l e s , h a v e I ?I d o n t f e e l a s t h o u g h I mi m p o s i n g o n y o u n o w , as I used to feel, were I to talk about miracles because having moved up, you are more able to accept them. When I first moved to Sedona and lived by myself, most things were done by thought and I was unaware of it. However, others began to come in, and it was because of them that I became aware of these unusual things. To me they were natural, but not to the others. I might have told one or two of you about the teleportation incident. This one is interesting because it involved two others, one who is following this path, and another one who is not. The one who is not I l l c a l l H a r r y . H a r r y c a m e t o S e d o n a f r o mP h o e n i x a n d a s k e d m e i f I w o u l d t a k e a w a l k a n d n a t u r a l l y , he chose a direction uphill. The three of us walked a mile and a half uphill, and when we got to the end of our trip, we sat down to have our sandwiches. We had only a pint size canteen of water for the three of us and we drank most of it on the way up. We had left only about an eighth of an inch of water in the bottom of this pint canteen, hardly enough for half a cup. But the three of use were thirsty, a n d s o I l e t g o w i t h t h e f e e l i n g , E v e r y t h i n g i s p e r f e c t ! I r e c e i v e d t h e i n n e r k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e w a t e r w a s a b u n d a n t l y t h e r e . T h e n I a s k e d , D o y o u w a n t a d r i n k , F r a n c e s ? S u r e . I g a v e F r a n c e s a cupful. Then Harry drank a cup, then I. We kept drinking until each one was satiated. We each had seven drinks! I curiously looked into the canteen and the same amount of water was there as originally j u s t a b o u t a n e i g h t h o f a n i n c h o n t h e b o t t o mo f t h e c a n t e e n . We then started the downward trek for home. I was so tired that I felt as though the body would not w a l k a n y m o r e . I j u s t l e t g o a n d I s a i d , O h , L o r d , t h e r e m u s t b e a b e t t e r w a y ! A n d t h e t h o u g h t a g a i n c a m e t o m e , E v e r y t h i n g i s p e r f e c t . A s I t h o u g h t p e r f e c t , w e , t h e t h r e e o f u s , h a d o n e s t e p u p t h e r e and the next step was down near my home, where the surroundings were similar to the place we had l e f t s o a s n o t t h e m a k e i t o b v i o u s t o H a r r y . F r a n c e s c a u g h t i t a n d s a i d , L e s t e r , w e t e l e p o r t e d ! I s a i d , O h , y o u r e c r a z y , F r a n c e s , y o u r e i m a g i n i n g i t , b e c a u s e H a r r y s m i n d w a s i n t u r b u l e n c e ; h i s f a c e s h o w e d a f r o w n a n d a c o n s t e r n a t i o n . F o r h i s s a k e I h a d t o a g a i n s a y , I t s y o u r i m a g i n a t i o n , F r a n c e s . F r a n c e s k n e w . L a t e r , w h e n w e w e r e a l o n e w i t h o u t H a r r y , I s a i d , Wh a t m a d e y o u t h i n k w e t e l e p o r t e d ? A n d s h e l a u g h e d . S h e s a i d , D o n t y o u r e m e m b e r , o n t h e w a y u p H a r r y a n d I w e r e collecting rocks and in several places we put them on the left side of the road on the way up (the road was cut into the side of the hill). I wanted to pick up those rocks on the way back, but we by-passed all o f t h o s e p l a c e s . Now, to do these things, it takes a mere effortless thought; you surrender, let go, and have a thought w i t h n o e f f o r t , n o d r i v e . I t s t h e e a s i e s t t h o u g h t y o u c o u l d h a v e . A n d t h e n i t h a p p e n s . During the early days in Sedona I was living this way, unaware of it. To me it was natural. Whatever I thought, I expected. It seemed natural, just the way everyone thinks he lives naturally. It is r e a l l y t h e n a t u r a l w a y a n d i t i s m e a n t f o r u s t o l i v e t h a t w a y . A l t h o u g h , i f w e d i d , w e w o u l d n t f i t v e r y
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well into our present society, would we? So, if you want to stay in communication, you go the way of people. Mi r a c l e s a r e j u s t t h i s d r e a mw o r l d e f f e c t e d i m m e d i a t e l y . A n d m i r a c l e s d o n t n e c e s s a r i l y m e a n spiritual development because the majority of people in the universe use these things; they use them on o t h e r p l a n e t s w h e r e t h e y r e n o t n e c e s s a r i l y m o r e s p i r i t u a l l y a d v a n c e d t h a n w e . I t i s t h e i r n a t u r a l w a y o f life. But the easier way to live is purely mental; mentally do everything. You should be able to do all this. Why not go all the way and have nature serve you? Why do you do things the harder way? I t h i n k i t s b e c a u s e y o u r e a f r a i d y o u r e g o i n g t o d i s a p p e a r . I ms a y i n g t o y o u , L o o k , I h a v e b e e n t h r o u g h t h e s e t h i n g s . A n d I s t i l l h a v e a b o d y h e r e . I d i d n t d i s a p p e a r . Q: Can you demonstrate your infinity for me, too? Lester: You must demonstrate your own. You have had ample witnessing of these unusual things. I f I d o i t f o r y o u t h a t w o u l d m e a n y o u c a n t d o i t . I j u s t f i n i s h e d s a y i n g t h a t y o u c a n d o i t !I t s surrendering, then mere effortless thinking! You have the feeling that it is not I but the Father who worketh through me. I c a n g o o n a n d o n . I mt r y i n g t o e n t i c e y o u . Wh e n I m o v e d i n t o t h e m o b i l e h o m e o n m y g r o u n d s , a g i r l , n o wl i v i n g h e r e i n L a g u n a B e a c h , a s k e d m e , H o wo f t e n d o y o u f i l l t h a t b u t a n e b o t t l e ? ( I t w a s a f i v e g a l l o n b o t t l e . ) I s a i d , E v e r y m o n t h . T h e n I r e m e m b e r e d i t h a d b e e n e i g h t m o n t h s s i n c e I h a d l a s t filled it. Becoming aware of it, I let go of it. When I was trying to show Frances how to conserve water, I let her take charge of and keep filled my 55 gallon water drum alongside my mobile home. It took care of all my needs, including a shower every morning. The reason why I wanted her to take care of it was that I wanted to show her that you can live on very little water. But I lost track of time and when I brought it to her attention, she laughed. I t h a d b e e n f o u r m o n t h s s i n c e s h e h a d f i l l e d i t l a s t . I k e p t u s i n g t h e w a t e r a n d t h e t a n k w o u l d n t e m p t y out! When we opened it and looked, it was still full after using it for four months! It never would have emptied out if I had not let go of it. Q : H a d n o t l e t g o o f i t , w h a t d o y o u m e a n ? L e s t e r : L e t g o o f i t b y l e t t i n g i t b e n o r m a l . Q: You thought again of it as being a limited thing? Lester: No, I let it be as usual, or as is normal to people. I want to remain in communication with p e o p l e a n d I c h o o s e t o l i v e l i k e p e o p l e l i v e , b e c a u s e i f I l i v e i n a n u n u s u a l w a y , I mo u t o f communication. It even scares people. Q : T h i s w o u l d n t s c a r e a n y b o d y . Lester: I know by experience that it scares people. When it first came to me while I was living in N e wY o r k C i t y , s o m e p e o p l e w o u l d n t c o m e n e a r m e b e c a u s e o f t h e s e t h i n g s h a p p e n i n g . Wh a t s w r o n g w i t h t h i s w a y o f l i f e ?Wh y w o n t y o u t a k e i t ?I t i s y o u r s f o r t h e t a k i n g . I h o p e t o allure you by making it so tempting that you will go all the way. Look at the difficulties you go through to make a living. A s k y o u r s e l f , Wh y d o n t I g o a l l t h e w a y ? Wh y d o n t I t a k e t h i n g s d i r e c t l y , j u s t f o r t h e t h o u g h t o f t h e m ? Wh y d o n t I e x p r e s s m y t o t a l f r e e d o m ? A n d m a y b e t h e a n s w e r w i l l c o m e u p a n d y o u l l s e e w h a t y o u r e d o i n g t o h o l d y o u r s e l f d o w n . Q : O n e r e a s o n i s t h a t w e a r e s o u s e d t o b e i n g h a m s t r u n g t h a t w e d o n t r e a l i z e t h a t w e c a n g e t o u t o f i t . I w a s j u s t t h i n k i n g o f t h e m o t e l , o f g e t t i n g i t s o l d , a n d t h e n I t h o u g h t , D o I r e a l l y w a n t t o l e a v e i t ?
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and I know I upset it every time. L e s t e r : T h a t s t r u e a n d t h a t i s w h y I mt e l l i n g y o u o f t h e e a s y w a y . Y o u r h a b i t o f t h o u g h t r u n s y o u the hard way. One way to undo all habits of thought, which are in the subconscious mind, is to see that you are not the mind, and you will scorch it. Q: Tell us a little more about scorching this mind, which I have found out is most important. L e s t e r : I s e e y o u v e g o t t e n a r e a l i z a t i o n j u s t r e c e n t l y . Q : T h a t s r i g h t . L e s t e r : A n d y e t , y o u d i d n t c a r r y t h r o u g h o n i t . Wi t h t h a t r e a l i z a t i o n , y o u s h o u l d h a v e c o n t i n u e d a n d s a i d , I c a n d o i t ; I a mi n f i n i t e ! Wi t h t h a t i n f i n i t e p o w e r , y o u j u s t p a s s y o u r f i g u r a t i v e h a n d o v e r t h e m i n d a n d i t s f i n i s h e d . I t s j u s t a m e n t a l w i p e o u t t h a t y o u d o . A n d t h a t s i t . Y o u k n o wh o wl o n g it takes? Less than that! (finger snap) Less than a second. Wh e n y o u g e t y o u r f u l l R e a l i z a t i o n , i t s i n s t a n t a n e o u s . B e f o r e t h a t , y o u p l a y a r o u n d , d r o p p i n g a little bit at a time. This goes on and on, year in and year out, until you decide to let go of the whole t h i n g ; t h e n y o u v e g o t F u l l R e a l i z a t i o n . I t r e a l l y c o m e s i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y w h e n i t c o m e s . Y o u w i l l i t . Will is your power. You turn on your will so strongly that you just undo the whole mind, and you are totally Free. Q : I t j u s t d o e s n t m a k e a n y s e n s e a t a l l . I t s j u s t a s t h o u g h y o u r e h a n d i n g m e a l l t h e m o n e y i n t h e w o r l d a n d s a y i n g , H e r e ! a n d I ms i t t i n g a n d s a y i n g , Wh y d o n t I t a k e i t ? L e s t e r : Y e s , w h y d o n t y o u ? Q : Wh a t s w r o n g w i t h m e ? L e s t e r : Wh a t i s ?T h a t s t h e b i g q u e s t i o n . Wh a t i s w r o n g ?I k n o wy o u t h i n k t h a t t h i s i s p o s s i b l e , otherwise you would not have listened all this time. Q : I t s t h e i n t e l l e c t t h a t s i n t h e w a y . L e s t e r : T h a t i s i t . Wh y n o t w i p e i t o u t ?T h e i n t e l l e c t i s t h e m i n d . We h a v e t o s e e w e r e n o t t h e m i n d a n d t h a t i t i s e x t e r n a l t o u s , a n d t h e n j u s t m a k e i t i n e f f e c t i v e . J u s t l i k e t h a t ; t h a t s t h e w a y y o u l l do it. Q : Y o u s a i d s o m e t h i n g t h e o t h e r n i g h t , L e s t e r , w h i c h w a s a h e l p t o m e a n d t h a t w a s I a mg o i n g t o p u t L e s t e r t o b e d . L e s t e r : I a l w a y s t h i n k t h a t w a y . I l l s e n d L e s t e r a n d t h i s b o d y a r o u n d a n d m a k e i t a p p e a r t o b e doing things. A f t e r I g o t t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t I a mn o t t h e b o d y , i t w a s y e a r s b e f o r e I c o u l d u s e t h e w o r d I . P e o p l e w o u l d l a u g h a t m e b e c a u s e I w o u l d t a l k a b o u t L e s t e r ; I w o u l d t a l k a b o u t h i m a n d s o m e t i m e s I w o u l d s a y , i t , L e s t e r , o r L e s t e r , h e . I c o u l d n t s a y I e v e n t h o u g h I w a s b e i n g c o r r e c t e d . Wh y ?I was not this body. I could talk about this body, but it was so obvious and glaring that I was not this b o d y t h a t I c o u l d n t s a y I w a s t h i s t h i n g , a n y m o r e t h a n y o u c o u l d s a y y o u w e r e y o u r c a r . B e c a u s e y o u a r e c a r r y i n g y o u r s e l f a r o u n d i n a c a r , w o u l d y o u c a l l y o u r s e l f t h e c a r ?I n t h e s a m e w a y y o u l l l o o k a t this body. (This body is a car-case, a carcass.) I s a y y o u r e s i l l y t o n o t t a k e t h e A l l . Q : I t h i n k t h e r e s a s t r o n g e r w o r d t h a n s i l l y . L e s t e r : Y e s , i t s r e a l l y s t u p i d . H e l e d m e t o s a y i t . I t s s o s t u p i d n o t t o g o t h r o u g h l i f e w i t h everything you want; with nothing but extreme joy, peace and loveliness every moment; when that is
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your inherent state. It takes no effort to be what you are. It does take extreme effort to be what you are n o t : a b o d y w i t h t r o u b l e , s i c k n e s s e s a n d n e e d i n g t h i s a n d n e e d i n g t h a t . I t t a k e s e f f o r t t o b e w h a t y o u r e not, but to be what you are takes as much effort as you women would need to be a female, and as much effort as you men would need to be a male. It takes no effort to be what you are. And yet you persist i n u s i n g e f f o r t t o b e w h a t y o u a r e n o t . I t s r e a l l y s t u p i d ! Q: Well, I persist in using effort to try to be what you say I am. I keep working at this thing of being effortless. Does that make sense? Lester: No, does it? Q: Not to me. L e s t e r : R i g h t . T h e r e s s o m e t h i n g w r o n g t h e r e . Q: What did I say? L e s t e r : Y o u r e u s i n g e f f o r t i n t r y i n g t o m a k e y o u r s e l f e f f o r t l e s s t h a t s i m p o s s i b l e !I t s a c o n t r a d i c t i o n . Y o u v e g o t t o s t o p u s i n g e f f o r t . Y o u v e g o t t o l e t g o a n d l e t b e . T h a t s w h a t i s m e a n t b y L e t g o a n d l e t G o d . Y o u a r e i t , y o u r e t h e g o d ; l e t g o a n d l e t y o u r S e l f b e . H o w e v e r , i t s e e m s t o take much effort because you are using tremendous effort to hold onto and maintain your non-self, y o u r e g o , a n d t h e r e i s w h e r e y o u r e f f o r t i s . I t t a k e s n o e f f o r t t o b e w h a t y o u a r e t h e S e l f . Q : I f I c o u l d a r r i v e a t t h e d r e a m e r i n s t e a d o f t h e d r e a m , t h e n I d h a v e i t m a d e . A n d t h a t s w h y I v e b e e n t h i n k i n g , T h i s i s a d r e a m ?Wh o s e d r e a mi s t h i s ? Lester: Right! Discover the dreamer. To make it more intimate: I, the Infinite Being, am dreaming that I am a limited body. While you are in a night dream and you think you are a limited body in that night dream, it persists s o l o n g a s y o u d o n t w a k e u p . I t s t h e s a m e t h i n g w i t h t h i s w a k i n g s t a t e . We r e d r e a m i n g w e r e limited bodies. We have to wake up to the fact that we are infinite. We have to stop thinking that w e r e l i m i t e d b o d i e s , t h a t s a l l . S t o p t h i n k i n g . L e t g o . L e t b e . S u r r e n d e r i s t h e w o r d . I f w e w o u l d surrender this moment, that would be it. Not I, but Thou. Not my will, but Thy will. This is s u r r e n d e r . We c o u l d d o t h a t r i g h t n o wa n d t h a t w o u l d b e i t . B u t n o , w e v e g o t t o b e a b u s y e g o b o d y , doing something. We must be a doer. Q: Several of the people were discussing robots. Actually, I guess we could consider the body a r o b o t . We r e u s i n g t h i s p h y s i c a l b o d y , a n d w h e n w e r e t h r o u g h w i t h i t , w e d r o p t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y , b u t what we have is still there. L e s t e r : T h a t s a n e x c e l l e n t w a y t o l o o k u p o n t h e b o d y . A l l r i g h t , n o wI l l t e l l y o u s o m e t h i n g m o r e . I f y o u w e r e r e a l l y c o n v i n c e d o f w h a t I v e s a i d s o f a r , y o u d g o h o m e , y o u d f o r g e t e v e r y t h i n g e l s e , a n d y o u d s i t d o w n u n t i l y o u s a wt h i s ; b e c a u s e t h i s w o u l d g i v e y o u e v e r y t h i n g j u s t f o r t h e t h o u g h t . I f y o u w e r e r e a l l y c o n v i n c e d , y o u d g o h o m e d e t e r m i n e d t o s i t u n t i l y o u s a wt h i s ; a n d i f y o u d i d t h a t y o u d s e e i t !J u s t l i k e B u d d h a d i d , w h e n h e l e f t h i s throne and sat under a tree, determined not to leave until he saw the answer; and he saw the answer. Q: Well, I think one thing that may be bogging some of us down, and I know to a certain extent it has to me, is that I have felt for a long time that I had to take something piecemeal and get each thing o u t o f m y s y s t e m . N o w , I mf i n a l l y b e g i n n i n g t o r e a l i z e t h a t i f I g e t a b o v e i t , t h e n n o n e o f i t m a k e s a n y difference. Lester: Yes. We all start that way by undoing single things at first. It begins to show us our mastership. Then we master our tendencies or predispositions. This undoes all the numerous
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multitudes of thoughts that made up that tendency or predisposition. You should not keep undoing t h e s e s i n g l e t h i n g s p i e c e m e a l . T h a t w a s a l l r i g h t f o r t h e b e g i n n i n g ; y o u d o n t n e e d i t a n y m o r e . D r o p a tendency or predisposition and you drop the millions of subconscious thoughts underlying it. Q : Wh e n y o u f i r s t s t a r t e d t o t e l l u s t h a t t h e r e s n o b o d y o u t t h e r e b u t y o u , s o m e o f u s j u s t c o u l d n t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t , m e i n c l u d e d . I h a v e d i s c o v e r e d w h y t h e r e s n o b o d y o u t t h e r e b u t m e : b e c a u s e i t i s I who creates that out there, and it is in me. L e s t e r : Y e s , t h a t s t r u e ! Q: So I really know, I had a realization that was as clear as crystal. L e s t e r : O K , w h y n o t c l e a n u p t h a t o u t t h e r e u n t i l y o u d o n o t w a i v e r f r o ms e e i n g i t a l l a s i n y o u ? Q : T h a t s w h a t I md o i n g n o w . L e s t e r : Y o u d o n t t a k e e n o u g h t i m e a t i t . Q : T h a t s t r u e . L e s t e r : I t s h o u l d b e a l l t h e t i m e , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t y o u r e d o i n g . Wh i l e y o u r e d r i v i n g , t a l k i n g t o people, you can remain with it, and you would if you wanted it that much. If you really get with it, the j o y o f d o i n g i t i s s o g r e a t t h a t y o u w o n t l e t g o u n t i l y o u g o a l l t h e w a y . I t b e c o m e s t h e o n l y t h i n g y o u want. You begin to see the light and then, nothing in this world can interest you more than it. You just stay with it, and you ride it all the way. Misery starts you in the direction, gets you to reverse your wrong direction. Then the desire for the wonderfulness of it takes you all the way to the top. Q: Then you know you can play any game you want, because that mind is under your control. Lester: Yes. However, the game played after reaching the top is usually the same game for e v e r y o n e , a l t h o u g h i t w i l l e x p r e s s d i f f e r e n t l y ; i t s t h e g a m e o f h e l p i n g o t h e r s , w h i c h i s r e a l l y a g r e a t game. Q: It becomes an interesting game. L e s t e r : I t s t h e n i c e s t g a m e t h e r e i s ; i t s t h e m o s t r e w a r d i n g g a m e t h e r e i s . Q: What you are teaching me is really helping me. L e s t e r : T h a t w h i c h I mo f f e r i n g y o u i s m o r e t h a n a m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . Wh a t I mo f f e r i n g i s t h e w h o l e universe. If you wanted gold, you could pile it up by the tons. Of course, when you can create unlimited tons of gold, do you want to pile it up? No, you take only that which you can use. Q : O f a l l t h e d i f f e r e n t w a y s t h a t y o u v e o f f e r e d , i t s e e m s l i k e t h e r e o u g h t t o b e o n e t h a t I c o u l d b e successful with. Lester: Take any one of many of those sayings in The Eternal Verities and if you carry it out until the end, that would be it. Take the good one mentioned before: get to the place where no one and no thing can disturb you. Every time you are disturbed, look for the ego motivation wherein you wanted it t o b e o t h e r t h a n i t w a s . O n r e c o g n i z i n g i t s a y , O h , I s e e , a n d l e t g o o f y o u r e g o m o t i v a t i o n o f wanting it to be the way you want it to be. Every reaction or tendency is based on a selfish thing. We wanted it to be the way we wanted it to be. Keep dropping these reactive tendencies. Every time a r e a c t i o n c o m e s , l o o k a t i t ; s e e t h e s e l f i s h e g o m o t i v a t i o n a n d d r o p i t . Y o u l l s o o n r e a c h a p l a c e w h e r e t h e r e i s n o m o r e a n d y o u r e t h e r e a l l t h e w a y . Q : E v e r y t i m e y o u f e e l o f f e n d e d , j e a l o u s , a n g r y , h u r t o r a n y t h i n g l i k e t h a t , t h a t s y o u r e g o a n d
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t h a t s y o u r m i n d ? Lester: Right. Rid yourself of all your feelings and you will go all the way. So, have we gained anything new? Q : Y o u h a v e p r e s e n t e d u s w i t h m o r e o f a c h a l l e n g e t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t y o u r e s a y i n g ; y o u m a k e i t sound so darn easy and it affronts me to think that anything that easy could elude me. L e s t e r : Wh e n y o u d o i t , i t i s e a s y . Wh e n y o u d o n t d o i t , i t s i m p o s s i b l e . T h a t s t h e w a y i t r e a l l y i s . Wh e n y o u d o i t , i t s e a s y . Wh e n y o u d o n t d o i t , i t s i m p o s s i b l e . Q : O h , L o r d , w a i t a m i n u t e . Wh e n y o u d o i t , i t s e a s y . Wh e n y o u d o n t d o i t , i t s i m p o s s i b l e . Lester: It takes no effort to be what you really are: Infinite. It takes tremendous effort to be extremely limited as you now choose to be. I f e e l a s t h o u g h I v e g i v e n w h a t I c o u l d o n g o i n g a l l t h e w a y . I f t h e r e s a n y f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n , I l l b e happy to do what I can to answer it. If not, this is it. Q : I k e e p l o o k i n g a t y o u a n d I s e e t h a t t h e r e s h o p e . I f y o u v e m a d e i t , s o m e b o d y h a s . I t i s n t impossible, and I can do it. Lester: Yes, do it. Go all the way. Everyone was moving rapidly upward and then leveled off; some came down just a little bit and leveled off there. I f y o u d o n t u s e w h a t y o u v e s e e n , y o u l l l o s e i t . Y o u h a v e g o t t o k e e p u s i n g i t , o t h e r w i s e t h e remaining subconscious habits will overwhelm you and you will lose your direction. Q: When we go all the way, we still go on doing the same things; we still go on laughing; we still g o t o t h e b a l l e t ; d o a l l t h e s e t h i n g s . T h e r e s n o t h i n g d e n i e d . L e s t e r : Y e s . T h e o n l y d i f f e r e n c e i s t h a t y o u r e f r e e t o d o o r n o t t o d o w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t ; y o u r e n o more compelled in any direction whatsoever. I strongly recommend taking time out for thinking on these things every day, twice a day. In the morning before going to work, and at night before going to bed. Never should a day go by without doing this. Get with it, totally, in a quiet spot until it sucks you in more and more until you let go of the world pull. Getting quiet enough, the infinite parts of you just take over and you go all the way. Y o u r e a c h a p l a c e w h e r e y o u f e e l h e l p l e s s b e c a u s e i t s e f f o r t l e s s . K e e p t h a t u p a n d y o u l l e f f o r t l e s s l y be sucked right into your Infinity. Q : We l l , I k n o ws o m e t i m e s i t s e e m s t h a t I mg e t t i n g s o t a l l . L e s t e r : T h e r e s a s e n s e o f s u r r e n d e r i n t h a t . Q : T h e r e s t h a t f a m o u s s t a t e m e n t o f y o u r s : L e t g o a n d l e t G o d . I t f i n a l l y s t r u c k m e t h a t i t m e a n s l e t go of your mind and let God. L e s t e r : Y e s , a n o t h e r w a y t o s a y t h a t i s , S u r r e n d e r . E v e n i f y o u s u r r e n d e r t o a m o u n t a i n , y o u w i l l g e t i t , b e c a u s e s u r r e n d e r i s N o t m y w i l l . Q: Ego, mind and will are all the same thing. So if you let go, that means let go of your mind, ego and all the other things. Lester: Yes. Q: Sometimes when something happens I can be very irritated but then I catch myself giggling to m y s e l f w h i l e I md o i n g i t . I t r e a l l y i s n t a f f e c t i n g m e . Lester: Yes, get free and then you may act irritated.
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Q : S o y o u c a n a c t a n y p a r t ?A n d y o u r e a w a r e o f t h e f a c t t h a t y o u r e a n a c t o r ? Lester: Right. Go all the way and there is only fun. Q: You can even keep your humor too? Lester: Right. But the motivation for the humor is to make others happy, not for ego approval. T h a t s t h e d i f f e r e n c e . Wh e n I s a y y o u l e v e l e d o f f a n d a r e o n a p l a t e a u , i t s n o t e x a c t l y c o r r e c t . Y o u l e v e l e d o f f i n t o a slow, gradual, upward direction. It could be much faster, even immediate, rather than a slow, gradual, u p w a r d t r e n d . G o a l l t h e w a y l i f e f r o mt h a t p o i n t o n i s j u s t a b a l l . Y o u d o n t h a v e t o w o r k . I f y o u want to you can. You can always be successful; or you can even choose to be unsuccessful, just to make a game out of it. If you can succeed in failing, you can also succeed in succeeding. Q: Would helping others really be a fast way? L e s t e r : N o s o i f y o u r p u r p o s e i s e g o m o t i v a t e d . H o w e v e r , w h e n y o u l i v e o n l y f o r o t h e r s , i t s a v e r y fast way. Paradoxically, the most selfish thing you can do is to be totally selfless. When we are totally s e l f l e s s , w e h a v e t h e A l l , t h e I n f i n i t y . I t s a s e e m i n g p a r a d o x . Q : T h a t s i t . Y o u o f f e r m e t h e A l l ! L e s t e r : Y e s . We v e a l l h a d g l i m p s e s o f i t . T h e t h i n g t o d o i s t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t p e r m a n e n t l y , f o r a l l time. S o , a g a i n I s a y , t a k e t i m e o u t e v e r y d a y a n d e f f e c t i t . G o a l l t h e w a y . Y o u v e g o t i n f i n i t e p o w e r b e h i n d y o u ; t h e r e s n o t h i n g t o s t o p y o u b u t y o u . Ma k e i t p a r t o f y o u r e v e r y d a y l i f e a n d s t a y w i t h i t u n t i l i t s e s t a b l i s h e d f o r a l l t i m e . Y o u c a n d o i t ! ***

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 T h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g f a r m o r e b e a u t i f u l t h a n n a t u r e i t i s t h e S o u r c e o f n a t u r e t h e u l t i m a t e b e a u t y G o d . Lester Levenson
Session 35 T H ES E L F Y O U RS E L F T h e S e l f , w h i c h i s o n l y y o u r S e l f , i s t h e r e a l I o f y o u . K n o w i n g t h i s y o u k n o wa l l t h e r e i s t o know. Here are some thoughts which may help you to come to know this. Reflect on them. *** Knowing your Self is being your Self. *** The ultimate goal of every being in the universe is total freedom; and that is when you are only your Self. *** The only reason why you are not aware of your Self is simply because you want to be a single body in the world. *** Everyone will someday wake up to the fact that he is the Self. *** To see your Self, you have to quiet the mind enough. When the mind is being stimulated by the t h o u s a n d s o f t h o u g h t s i n t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s , t h e r e s l i t t l e c h a n c e o f s e e i n g y o u r S e l f . T h e t h o u s a n d s o f thoughts culminate in tendencies. Drop a tendency and you eliminate the thousands of thoughts under it. *** The only things preventing you from being your Self are your mental habits called tendencies or predispositions. Will them out! *** If you discover that the source of the tendencies or predispositions is the Self, your Self, you drop them then and there.

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*** When the mind gets free enough, then the Self of you takes over and you are from then on Selfpropelled. *** To be the non-Self requires much effort, and is the effort we feel in life. *** It requires no effort to be your Self! *** The effort that you think you use to try to be your Self is the effort you use in trying to resist being the non-Self ego. *** Your wishes to be the ego and, at the same time, to not be it, doubles the effort. *** A l l t h e e f f o r t y o u r e i n v o l v e d i n i s e f f o r t t o b e a n e g o , o r t o r e s i s t b e i n g a n e g o . D o y o u s e e w h a t the problem is? It is your constant effort. You must become effortless. *** T h e r e i s o n l y o n e r e a l k i l l i n g a n d t h a t s t h e k i l l i n g o f t h e S e l f . K i l l t h e S e l f a n d y o u v e g o t e g o a n d troubles. So everyone is a murderer of the Self who thinks he is an ego. *** T h e o n l y r e a s o n w h y a n y o n e i s n t a w a r e o f t h e S e l f i s b e c a u s e h e w a n t s o t h e r t h a n t h a t . *** If one wanted the Self as much as he wanted the world, he would soon have it. *** Wh e n y o u f i n d m o r e j o y w i t h i n y o u r s e l f t h a n i n a n y t h i n g e l s e , t h e n y o u r e r e a l l y m o v i n g i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n . I f y o u f i n d a n y j o y i n l i f e , y o u r e i n t h e w r o n g d i r e c t i o n . E n j o y i n g a n y t h i n g i s w r o n g . S e e k j o y w i t h i n . B e j o y . T h e r e s n o t h i n g n e e d e d t o e n j o y i f y o u a r e a l l j o y o u s . I f w e a r e e n j o y i n g a n y t h i n g , w e a r e i n d u a l i t y . I f I e n j o y t h i s , t h e r e s I a n d t h i s . I f t h e r e s G o d ( S e l f ) a l o n e , t h e r e c a n t b e a n y I a n d t h i s . The basic Truth is that you are all joy. Enjoying something will impose an extreme limitation upon
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y o u r n a t u r a l s t a t e o f a l l j o y . T o e n j o y s o m e t h i n g , y o u r e r e c o g n i z i n g s o m e t h i n g o t h e r t h a n y o u . S o , I repeat, we should never enjoy anything. Seek joy only within and then the natural state of infinite joy is discovered. *** There is really only one happiness; it is being our very own Self. The happier we are, the more we are dwelling in our Self. *** E v e r y t i m e y o u r e h i g h y o u r e o n l y b e i n g y o u r S e l f , a n d i t f e e l s t e r r i f i c . *** Living in your Self is living in ecstacies. Living in worldly desires is living in miseries. *** Everyone every moment is experiencing his Self and every moment saying otherwise. *** I t s o n l y w i t h o u t t h o u g h t t h a t y o u c a n b e t h e S e l f . *** D i s c o v e r i n g a n d b e i n g y o u r S e l f i s e i t h e r e a s y o r i m p o s s i b l e . *** F i n d i n g t h e S e l f i s t h e e a s i e s t t h i n g i n t h e u n i v e r s e w h e n y o u d o i t . Wh e n y o u d o n t d o i t , w h e n y o u continuously keep looking away from It, you can never see It. And then it is the most difficult thing in the universe. *** Being your Self is easy. Being an ego is difficult. *** Wh e n y o u r e a l i z e w h a t y o u a r e , i t s t h e d r o p p i n g o f w h a t y o u a r e n o t t h a t i s t h e g r o w t h . E a c h t i m e you see what you are, you should drop that which you are not. *** Everyone is seeking the Self, calling It by different names.

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*** A n y o n e w h o s s e e k i n g h a p p i n e s s i s s e e k i n g t h e S e l f . T h e r e a r e t w o k i n d s o f p e o p l e i n t h e w o r l d : those who are consciously seeking God, happiness, the Self, and those who are unconsciously seeking them. *** In the consciousness of materiality (mammon) there is no God (Self). *** You cannot see God in the world until you see God in yourself. *** God is All and God is Perfect. Therefore, anything that we see as imperfect is in us. *** If you see separation you see not the Self. *** When the world is real it is heavy. When the Self is real the world is light. *** When our false identity as a body-mind disappears, our real identity as Self appears. *** We are the Self now. All that we have to do is to let go of the concept that we are not. *** The Self is God. The ego is the devil. *** God (your Self) is infinitely individual and individually infinite. *** The most beautiful is God. ***

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T h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g f a r m o r e b e a u t i f u l t h a n n a t u r e i t i s t h e S o u r c e o f n a t u r e , t h e u l t i m a t e b e a u t y G o d . *** No matter how much trouble man can get himself into, God is more resourceful in getting him out of it. *** When we behave like God, we have God-like powers. *** God (Self) can materialize anything instantly. *** The All that is God is not every little thing; it is the singular same Essence behind all the little things. *** God and good are sometimes used synonymously. Because everyone wants good, they make God good. God is above good and bad. However, good leads us to God. *** If God is All, that leaves no room for the devil. *** In Reality there is only God (your Self). *** I t s b e t t e r t o t h i n k o f S e l f r a t h e r t h a n G o d , b e c a u s e y o u g e n e r a l l y t h i n k o f G o d a s o t h e r t h a n y o u a n d you generally think of Self as you. *** T h e r e s n o s u c h t h i n g a s a n e x t e r n a l c a l l e d G o d . T h e r e i s a G o d , b u t I t i s t h e i n t e r n a l b e i n g n e s s o f each one. *** Everything that is, is the Self, has its isness, its beingness, in your Self, God.

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*** God is this World, the way this World is, and not the apparency that we see. *** G o d , T r u t h , t h e S e l f i s c h a n g e l e s s . I f G o d k n e wc h a n g e , H e w o u l d n t b e c h a n g e l e s s . T h e r e i s n o action in God. God knows nothing of this World as we see it. God is only the changeless beingness behind the World. *** Everyone experiences his Self every moment of his life. *** My Self is the nearest of the near and the dearest of the dear. *** Look to the Self for everything! *** If you want to get more comforts, know thy Self. *** The only answer to all problems is knowing your Self. *** We will never be completely satisfied until we are completely being the Self. *** To discover your Self is the reason why you came into this world. *** Everyone is seeking his Self in his every act. *** The ultimate happiness is the Self. Any other happiness is only a bit of the Self. *** When you know that the only joy there is, is of the Self, you take it directly and in its fullness rather
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than meagerly, as you formerly took it. *** The only one needed to know your Self is yourself. *** This feeling of needing someone else to be your Self is ridiculous. It limits your being your Self. *** Everyone is actually the Self expressing the Self as extreme limitation, identifying as a limited b o d y m i n d . Wh e n y o u s a y I a n d a d d n o t h i n g t o i t , t h a t s I t . *** When you are not identifying with the ego, you are the Self. *** The only direct knowledge is of the Self. All other knowledge, needing something external to ourselves, is indirect. *** If, at this moment, you identify with your Self, you are infinite. *** T h a t p a r t o f y o u t h a t r e a l l y i s , y o u r b e i n g n e s s , i s e t e r n a l . I t s t h e I t h a t y o u r e a l l y a r e . *** The little self, the ego, is nothing but the innate infinite Self assuming that It is limited. There are n o t w o s e l v e s , o n e h i g h e r , t h e o t h e r l o w e r , n o t w o I s . T h e r e i s o n l y o n e S e l f . I t i s p e r f e c t a n d always will be perfect, even though you make the false assumption that It is imperfect and limited. You are now, always were, and always will be your Self. *** Although one always experiences his Self, he usually needs to be directed to It before he becomes aware of It. *** It is the Self that is the source of the ego, the source of everything.

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*** Y o u a r e e v e r y m o m e n t t h e u n l i m i t e d S e l f , e v e r y m o m e n t s a y i n g , I a ml i m i t e d . Wh e n y o u d r o p i n t o t h e S e l f y o u s t o p s a y i n g , I a ma l i m i t e d b o d y m i n d . *** Look only at the Self; then the ego is eliminated. *** When you dwell in your Self you have no desire to be liberated. It is only when you are in the ego that you desire liberation. *** The Self is not aware of the ego, and the ego is not aware of the Self. *** Wh e n I , t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g , f e e l l i k e a b o d y , i t s t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g i m a g i n i n g i t i s f e e l i n g l i k e a b o d y . *** When the Self is real, the body is not real, and vice versa. *** Identify with your body and the extreme limitations of a body are yours. Identify with your Self and you are all things, all knowledge and power, with no limits. *** T h e r e i s n t a n y o n e w h o c o u l d n t m a t e r i a l i z e a n y t h i n g r i g h t n o w , i f h e o r s h e w o u l d j u s t l e t g o o f identifying as the limited body. *** I f y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r y o u r S e l f , y o u l l s e e t h a t t h e b o d y a n d m i n d a r e s e r v a n t t o y o u . *** Obtain and maintain direct experience of the Self. It is easier to obtain than to maintain direct experience. *** E v e r y t i m e y o u s a y I i t s e v e r y t h i n g , a l l t h e p o w e r i n t h e u n i v e r s e . E v e r y t i m e y o u a d d s o m e t h i n g
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to It, you pull It down into limitation. *** When you see the Perfection, you see the other one as the other one really is, which is the real thing t h e p e r f e c t S e l f . *** T h e r e s n o t a h i g h e r S e l f a n d a l o w e r S e l f . T h e r e s o n l y y o u i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h y o u r l i m i t l e s s B e i n g or identifying with your limited being. *** Y o u r e n e v e r s a t i s f i e d u n t i l y o u g o a l l t h e w a y . *** T h e r e s o n l y o n e t h i n g t h a t s a t i s f i e s f u l l y a n d e t e r n a l l y a n d t h a t s t o t a l a w a r e n e s s o f y o u r S e l f . *** Everyone is aware of a selfhood. It is the Self, being wrongly identified as only a body. *** If you would just be aware only, you would be your Self. If you would be only, you would be your Self. *** T h i s i n f i n i t e g l o r i o u s B e i n g t h a t w e a r e , b e i n g a b s o l u t e l y p e r f e c t , c a n n e v e r c h a n g e . I t s a l w a y s there. *** The greatest of all teachers is your Self. *** Look to your Self until you see It completely. *** All Beingness is God, your Self. ***

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I n t h e S e l f t h e r e i s n o h a v e r , h a v i n g o r t h i n g h a d . T h e r e i s n o d o e r , d o i n g o r t h i n g d o n e . T h e r e s n o k n o w e r , k n o w i n g o r t h i n g k n o w n . T h e r e , t h e r e s o n l y B e i n g , b e i n g a l l B e i n g n e s s . *** When man seeks and discovers the seeker, he discovers that: In the Self: God is not being something, God is beingness. God is not conscious of anything, God is consciousness. God does not enjoy anything, God is joy. God does not love anything or anyone, God is love. In man: His beingness is God. His consciousness is God. His joy is God. His love is God. *** Act as though you are the Self. This will lead you to seeing It. *** The Reality of you (Self) is perfect, all joyous, all glorious, all happy. *** The higher you go, the more you realize your Self and the more you treat others as your own Self. *** Being the Self is being selfless. In that state you are interested only in serving others, serving them as your Self. *** The Self is absolute, profound, indescribable peace. *** The only requisite for the realization of the Self, your Self, is stillness. *** When one realizes his Self, all his actions and possessions are not perceived as his. He has given up m e a n d m i n e . E v e r y t h i n g i s t h e S e l f .
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*** Wh e n y o u e x p e r i e n c e t h e S e l f , y o u c a n t t e l l a b o u t I t . A n y t h i n g y o u c a n t e l l s o m e t h i n g a b o u t i s n t I t . I t s t h e s t a t e o f o n l y b e i n g . T h e r e s n o a c t i o n t h e r e ; t h e r e s n o f o r mt h e r e . I t s I s n e s s , a n d t h a t s a l l t h a t I t i s . Y o u c a n t u s e I t , y o u c a n t k n o wI t y o u c a n o n l y b e I t . Wh e n y o u r e t h e r e , t h e r e s o n l y O n e Y o u , a n d t h a t s a l l t h e r e i s . *** Anything but the Self is wholly imagination. The ego is only an apparent actor in the imaginary story script you wrote. Thou are That, here and now. Do not delude yourself. Drop your illusory limitation. *** The Self is Quiescence, perfect Awareness with perfect Stillness. *** He who seeks God will not find God in duality. There is no human, God being All. There is no time, no becoming. There is no creating in total perfection. Only God beholds God, there being nothing else. Only God loves God, God being All. Be still and know that you are God! *** There is only God, nothing else. If there is only God, then I am That. At the end of the road we d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e r e i s o n l y I , a l l a l o n e . *** Y o u a r e t h e S e l f s a y i n g o t h e r w i s e b u t t h a t d o e s n t m a k e i t s o . N o m a t t e r h o wm u c h y o u s a y otherwise, you are that infinite Being right now. *** Y o u c a n t b e c o m e y o u r S e l f y o u a r e I t ! *** E v e r y t i m e y o u s a y I t h a t s t h e S e l f i f y o u w o u l d o n l y s t o p t h e r e ! *** T h e w o r d I w i t h n o t h i n g a d d e d t o i t , i s y o u r S e l f . Wh e n y o u j u s t s a y I t h a t f e e l i n g o f I i s t h e
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S e l f . B u t w h e n y o u s a y I a ms o m e t h i n g , t h a t i s n t I t . B u t j u s t p u r e I a n d o n l y I i s I t . Wh e n t h a t i s a l l y o u s e e a n d a l l y o u k n o wt h a t s G o d , y o u r S e l f . T h a t s w h y G o d i s c l o s e r t h a n f l e s h !J u s t h o l d o n t o t h e w o r k I o n l y , I , I , I , I , T r y i t w h e n y o u a r e a l o n e . J u s t I , I a n d n o t I a ma b o d y , b u t I , I , I , I , t h a t f e e l i n g o f b e i n g . H o l d T h a t ; e x p e r i e n c e I t ; b e I t !I t i s y o u r G o d h e a d y o u r S e l f ! ***

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 L o o k a w a y f r o mt h e b o d y . L o o k a w a y f r o mt h e m i n d . L o o k t o w a r d t h e b e i n g n e s s t h a t y o u a r e a n d n e v e r s t o p u n t i l y o u f u l l y d i s c o v e r t h a t T h o u A r t T h a t ! Lester Levenson
Session 36 THOU ART THAT THE RIDDLE A t s o m e l e v e l , e v e r y o n e i s a w a r e o f t h e i n f i n i t e b e i n g t h a t h e i s . A r e y o u a w a r e o f t h e I t h a t y o u a r e ?T h e w o r d I , t h a t s i t . T h a t s t h e b e i n g n e s s p a r t o f y o u , b u t i t i s o n l y t h e b e i n g n e s s p a r t . I f y o u e x p e r i e n c e I a m , t h a t s i t . T h a t p a r t o f y o u i s i n f i n i t e . A n d y o u a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g i t a l l t h e t i m e . T h e r e s n o t i m e w h e n y o u a r e n o t e x p e r i e n c i n g i t o t h e r w i s e y o u d g o o u t o f e x i s t e n c e . H o w e v e r , y o u o v e r r i d e i t a n d h i d e i t f r o my o u r s e l f b y s a y i n g I a ma b o d y . A n d w h a t y o u a r e d o i n g i s t h a t y o u a r e s a y i n g I , t h e i n f i n i t e b e i n g , a mt h i s b o d y . S o , i f y o u u s e t h e w o r d I y o u a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e i n f i n i t e b e i n g t h a t y o u a r e . E v e r y t i m e y o u s a y I a ms o m e t h i n g , y o u a r e s a y i n g I , t h e i n f i n i t e b e i n g , a ma l i m i t e d s o m e t h i n g . A n d b e i n g I n f i n i t e , I t a l l o w s y o u t o a s s u m e l i m i t a t i o n , a s much as you want. That is why you can do such a good job of limiting yourself. Does that make sense?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: Yes. Lester: We can drive ourselves into such extreme limitation that we think we are victims of our environment and subject to it. And it is an infinite being doing that! Q: Why do we not realize that we are unlimited beings? L e s t e r : We h a v e t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t w e c a n t d o i t . I f w e w e r e n o t c o n v i n c e d t h a t w e c o u l d n t d o i t , we could do it quickly, even in a moment. How long should it take one with all knowledge, all power t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t h e i s a l l k n o w l e d g e , a l l p o w e r ?N o t i m e !A n d e a c h o n e o f u s i s t h a t a l l p o w e r f u l , a l l k n o w i n g . I t s e e m s s o h a r d , a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e , o n l y b e c a u s e w e w o n t d o i t . T h a t s w h y i t s s o d i f f i c u l t w e w o n t d o i t ! We hold the concept that we are a body, rather than an infinite, unlimited being. As long as we hold t o t h a t c o n c e p t , w e a r e s t u c k w i t h i t . We d o n t l o o k a t t h e o t h e r , t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f u s w h i c h i s unlimited. Q: Well then, could you say that the only thing between us and realization is a thought? Lester: Yes. It is a thought which is the culmination of a lot of thoughts. For example, if you just examine how your thoughts flow after I tell you that you are unlimited, you will discover that immediately after hearing me you dive right into the thoughts of being a limited b o d y . Wh e n I s a y t h a t e a c h o n e o f u s i s i n f i n i t e , u n l i m i t e d , r i g h t n o w a t t h a t m o m e n t y o u g e t a f e e l of it. Are you aware of the feel that you get as I say it? Right now, everyone here is infinite, unlimited omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. When I say that to you, for that instant you feel it, but the next moment you think you are the body, and immediately take your full attention off what you really are
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and put it on the concept of being only the body with all its affiliations. A l l r i g h t , n o wt h a t y o u h a v e h e a r d t h i s , w h y d o n t y o u s t o p d o i n g t h i s t o y o u r s e l v e s . Y o u h a v e a n e x a m p l e r i g h t n o wo f w h a t I v e b e e n t a l k i n g a b o u t . C a n y o u s e e w h a t j u s t h a p p e n e d ? I f w h a t I s a i d h a d b e e n h e l d o n t o , y o u w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n d i s t r a c t e d . B u t w e r e s o i n t e r e s t e d i n b o d i e s t h a t w e i m m e d i a t e l y g r a v i t a t e t o w a r d t h e m . T h i s i s t h e p r o b l e m o u r p e r s i s t e n c e i n b e i n g bodies. Every moment we hold that we are limited bodies. What you need to do is stop doing just that. Will you do it? If you do, you will see the infinite being that you are. I t s r e a l l y s i m p l e , b u t I k n o wi t s e e m s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t . N o t o n l y d i f f i c u l t b u t m a y e v e n s e e m i m p o s s i b l e . B u t t h i s i s o n l y b e c a u s e w e j u s t d o n t d o i t , a n d t h a t m a k e s i t i m p o s s i b l e . We v e h e a r d t h e s e t h i n g s a g a i n a n d a g a i n a n d a g a i n . B u t w h a t u s e i s i t l i s t e n i n g t o t h i s i f w e d o n t d o i t ?A n d , a s I s a i d , b e i n g i n f i n i t e , t h e r e i s n t a n y o n e h e r e w h o c o u l d n t b e t h e i n f i n i t e b e i n g h e i s r i g h t h e r e a n d n o w i f o n l y h e w o u l d d o i t . S o , w h a t y o u n e e d t o d o i s t o g e t w i t h y o u r s e l f , l o o k a t y o u r s e l f , a n d d o i t . A n d i t s t h a t s i m p l e . H o wm a n y o f y o u w o m e n g o a b o u t e v e r y d a y t r y i n g t o d i s c o v e r t h a t y o u r e a f e m a l e ?N o n e . Wh o o f y o u m e n g o a b o u t e v e r y d a y t r y i n g t o d i s c o v e r t h a t y o u a r e a m a l e ?Wh y d o n t y o u ?B e c a u s e y o u accept it without any doubt whatsoever. But you do not accept that you are infinite. Why not? Why p l a y t h e g a m e o f l i m i t a t i o n a n d b e m i s e r a b l e ?Wh y ?I ma s k i n g y o u t h e q u e s t i o n s n o wi n s t e a d o f y o u asking me. Wh y d o n t y o u b e w h a t y o u a r e , i n s t e a d o f t h i s l i m i t e d b o d y ?A f t e r a l l t h e b o d y i s a v e r y c r a m p e d thing to be, and it hurts, lifetime in and lifetime out. Why insist on being so cramped and i n c a p a c i t a t e d . C o m p a r e d t o w h a t o n e r e a l l y i s i n f i n i t e , u n l i m i t e d a n d t o t a l l y f r e e . I t i s r i d i c u l o u s , i s n t i t ? Ma y b e s o m e o n e m i g h t w a n t t o a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n , Wh y d o n t y o u b e w h a t y o u a r e i n f i n i t e ? Q: What does it feel like to be infinite? Lester: Absolutely no limitation in any direction what so ever. No limitations, total freedom from e v e r y t h i n g n e e d i n g n o f o o d , n o o x y g e n , n o j o b . I n s t a n t l y m a t e r i a l i z i n g a n y t h i n g y o u w a n t . B e i n g anywhere in the universe. Being as tall as you want, or the size of an atom. Being at perfect peace and contentment. Being in the most delightful state possible. Q: What happens to this body when that happens? Lester: To really know that you should experience what you are. Otherwise the reality on the body c a n t b e u n d e r s t o o d . Wh e n y o u s e e w h a t y o u a r e , o n l y t h e n d o y o u k n o ww h a t t h e b o d y i s . I t t u r n s o u t to be a thought. A thought just like in a night dream when you dreamt about being a body in a s i t u a t i o n . A n d w h e n y o u a w o k e y o u s a i d , O h , m y g o s h , t h a t w a s a l l i n m y m i n d . T h e s a m e t h i n g happens to this body when you wake up from this dream called the waking state. You see the body, but you know it to be the dream nature that it is. D o y o u s e e h o wm u c h y o u r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e b o d y ?A n d t h i s p o i n t I m a k e : B e a s c o n c e r n e d about your infinite being as you are about your body, and, if you are, you will discover that you are infinite. Q: What I really meant was, when you are away doing these things, how does this body function? Lester: Automatically. The difference between how you are functioning now however, and how y o u c a n f u n c t i o n i s t h a t w h e n y o u f o c u s , y o u c a n t b e a w a y f r o mt h e I t h a t y o u a r e . Y o u r e r i g h t w h e r e y o u r I i s . Wh e n y o u s a y I , t h a t s w h e r e y o u a r e . T h e i n d i v i d u a l i t y n e v e r l e a v e s y o u , y o u n e v e r l e a v e i t . T h e I t h a t y o u a r e a l w a y s i s i t s e t e r n a l . T h a t s t h e r e a l b e i n g t h a t y o u a r e . A n d i f y o u w i l l b e t h a t I , a n d o n l y t h a t I , t h e n e v e r y t h i n g w i l l t u r n o u t t o b e l i k e a d r e a m . A n d w h e n y o u s e e i t f u l l y , t h i s s t a t e y o u c a l l r e a l i t y t u r n s i n t o a d r e a mt h a t n e v e r r e a l l y w a s . I t s t h e s a m e
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a s w h e n y o u w a k e u p f r o ma n i g h t m a r e . A s l o n g a s y o u r e m a i n i n i t , i t s v e r y r e a l . I t o n l y b e c o m e s unreal to you after you awaken. Right? The exact same thing happens to this waking state dream w h e n w e w a k e u p f r o mi t . We f i r s t s a y , O h , m y g o s h , i t w a s a l l a d r e a m , a n d t h e n w e a d d , t h a t n e v e r r e a l l y w a s . A n d t h a t s w h a t h a p p e n s t o y o u r b o d y . Y o u t h e n s e e i t a s a d r e a mb o d y . Y o u r b o d y w i l l c h a n g e b u t y o u n e v e r w i l l . Y o u d o n t d i s a p p e a r ; y o u d o n t l o s e a n y t h i n g ; y o u j u s t take on more and more until you see yourself first, as every being, as every body, then as every atom in t h e u n i v e r s e . T h e r e s n o r e a s o n t o f e a r l o s i n g y o u r b o d y , o r l o s i n g a n y t h i n g . Y o u g a i n m o r e a n d m o r e u n t i l y o u b e c o m e i n f i n i t e . Y e t , m o s t o f u s a r e f e a r f u l l e s t w e r e g o i n g t o l o s e o u r b o d y a n d b e n o t h i n g . T h a t s a s e r i o u s e r r o r . Y o u c o u l d b e a h u n d r e d b o d i e s ! Q: If you think of the body in terms of beingness... L e s t e r : I f y o u d o , y o u r e c o m m i t t i n g a g r o s s c r i m e a g a i n s t t h e w o r d b e i n g n e s s . B e i n g n e s s i s t h e infinity that you are. Your beingness is infinite. Your being a body is an extreme limitation in your beingness. Q : We t h i n k o f b o d y i n t e r m s o f l i m i t a t i o n ; t h a t s t h e o r d i n a r y c o n c e p t o f b o d y . Lester: Right, which means we have to let go of the concept that the body is I. As long as we hold t h a t , w e a r e h o l d i n g t h e c o n c e p t : I a me x t r e m e l i m i t a t i o n a p h y s i c a l b o d y . Any slight maladjustment in the body and it dies. And everyone knows that. We know that sooner o r l a t e r t h e b o d y d i e s . I t s a v e r y d i s p o s a b l e t h i n g a n d e v e r y o n e k n o w s t h a t s o o n e r o r l a t e r w e w i l l dispose of it, right? So if we hold on to this limitation and keep ourselves in extreme confinement it follows that we will always be afraid of the loss of the body. It is analogous to identifying with our car. To leave it, to trade it in or sell it would seem to us a terrible loss. And yet most of us do not think this way about our cars. They are temporary means of transportation. They are not us. Or v i e w e d a n o t h e r w a y . We a r e l i k e b i r d s i n a c a g e . T h e d o o r o p e n s b u t w e r e f u s e t o f l y o u t f r e e ! Q: Well, this sense of beingness, infinite beingness, is far more concrete than our present sense of body, is it not? Lester: It should be. This is what, in effect, I am trying to say. If you just hold on to your sense of b e i n g n e s s , a n d o n l y t h a t , a n d n o t a d d t h i s b o d y i s I , j u s t h o l d o n t o y o u r b e i n g n e s s o n l y , a n d h o l d i t , a n d h o l d i t y o u l l b e l e t t i n g g o o f t h e f e e l i n g t h a t t h e b o d y i s I . A n d y o u l l g e t a n i n s i g h t i n t o t h i s beingness. And then you will remain in it. Then your beingness is very concrete to you and your body is like a dream body. When you are only beingness you recognize that your beingness is all beingness. I say that e v e r y o n e i s , r i g h t n o w , t h a t i n f i n i t e b e i n g n e s s . A n d t h e i n f i n i t e p a r t o f y o u i s t h e I , t h e b e i n g n e s s o f t h e I , t h e I a m . A n d t h a t i f y o u w o u l d h o l d t h a t , t h a t w o u l d b e c o m e r e a l a n d c o n c r e t e t o y o u , a n d all the limitation, misery, and trouble of the body would automatically be gone. Q : I v e h a d a f e wg l i m p s e s o f t h a t b u t h o l d i n g i t i s a d i f f e r e n t t h i n g . L e s t e r : T h e r e a s o n y o u d o n t h o l d i t i s b e c a u s e y o u a r e h o l d i n g o n t o t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e b o d y i s y o u . Q: The thing is that this beingness cannot be conceived of with the mind, can it? L e s t e r : R i g h t . H o w e v e r , y o u d o n t h a v e t o c o n c e i v e o f i t i f y o u a r e i t . D o y o u h a v e t o c o n c e i v e o f being a man or a woman? Just be it and be it only. Be it completely every moment. Q: But this metamorphosis, this change that must take place within the individual, requires some intellectualization at first? Lester: The intellect directs you toward looking away from what you are not, and looking at what
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y o u a r e . I n t h a t s e n s e , y o u r e r i g h t . We a s k , Wh a t a mI ? a n d t h a t s i n t e l l e c t u a l . H o w e v e r , t h e answer is an experience. Q: Now this is what I was getting at. When does this intellectualization of the infinite stop and the experience begin? Lester: When your thinking quiets enough. Then you see what you are and it becomes real to you. Q : B u t y o u r e n o t c o n s c i o u s o f t h a t t r a n s i t i o n ? L e s t e r : Y o u r e c o n s c i o u s o f l e t t i n g g o o f t h e c o n c e p t s o f l i m i t a t i o n . D i s c o v e r i n g t h e i n f i n i t e B e i n g that you are is no transition, because you are that now; you always have been and always will be That. S o t h e r e c a n t b e a n y t r a n s i t i o n t h e r e . I t s t h e l e t t i n g g o o f t h e t h o u g h t s o f l i m i t a t i o n t h a t i s a transition. Q : I s n t i t d i f f i c u l t f o r o n e t o t h i n k o f h i s i n n e r b e i n g e x p e r i e n c i n g i t ? L e s t e r : I t s i m p o s s i b l e o n l y i n y o u r t h i n k i n g . Y o u m u s t e x p e r i e n c e i t . Q : A n d y e t i t s r e a l ; y o u d o c o m e i n t o i t ; t h e r e s n o d o u b t a b o u t i t ? Lester: Yes, sooner or later. When you get so fed up with torturing yourself, you then let go of all t h e n o n s e n s e o f l i m i t a t i o n a n d s e p a r a t i o n , a n d y o u b e c o m e w h a t y o u r e a l l y a r e i n f i n i t e . N o w , m o s t p e o p l e o n e a r t h w i l l t a k e m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s t o d o t h i s , a n d a f t e r w h a t w e v e t a l k e d a b o u t y o u c a n s e e why. Wh e n w e t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t a l l p e o p l e o n e a r t h y o u r e v e r y a d v a n c e d ; a n d y e t l o o k a t h o wm u c h y o u are holding on to being only that body! Your questions and talk relate mostly to the body, its transition, and what happens to the body. S t i l l I mh o p i n g t o p r o v o k e y o u i n t o l e t t i n g g o o f i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e b o d y , b y t e l l i n g y o u i t s impossible to be infinite as long as you insist upon being the body. As long as you persist in being the b o d y , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e . Y o u r e s t u c k . Y o u c o u l d r e m a i n s t u c k f o r m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s . I ask you, have you ever accepted the concept that you have no limitations? Q : I v e a c c e p t e d t h e i d e a i n t e l l e c t u a l l y , b u t o b v i o u s l y n o t i n p r a c t i c e . Lester: That is true and because you believe you are finite it is impossible to be infinite. These b o d i e s a r e v e r y f r a i l t h i n g s , a n d t h e y d o n t l a s t v e r y l o n g . A n d y e t w e i n s i s t a n d p e r s i s t i n b e i n g t h e b o d y . N o wa n y t i m e a n y o n e d e c i d e s , r e a l l y d e c i d e s , n o t t o b e i t t h e n h e w i l l a l l o wh i m s e l f t o s e e his infinite beingness. What do we do twenty-four hours a day? We cater to the body; we think we are it! We wake it up in the morning, we wash it, we dress it, we beautify it; we send it off to work so it can earn some money, so that we can put some other life (food) into it so it can digest and process that life inside so that it can persist. And then we go home and we park it for the evening. It is such a wonderful life that we have to escape from it; every night we have to go unconscious, that is, sleep. And this we repeat d a y i n a n d d a y o u t , l i f e i n a n d l i f e o u t u n t i l w e d e c i d e t h a t w e a r e n o t t h e b o d y , t h a t w e a r e m o r e than the body, that we are infinite beingness. It is really simple. And I know I am repeating myself, but the repetition is necessary. The difficulty i s t h e h o l d i n g o n t o w a n t i n g t o b e t h e b o d y . I n d o i n g s o , w e a r e c o n s t a n t l y s a y i n g , I a mt h e b o d y ; I a m n o t i n f i n i t e . A n d , o f c o u r s e a s a r e s u l t , w e c a n t f e e l t h e u n l i m i t e d j o y o r h a p p i n e s s t h a t w e r e seeking. Q: What do you mean when you say we have such a wonderful life that we have to go unconscious?
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Lester: This life, that we think is so great, we cannot take twenty-four hours a day; for about eight hours every day we have to escape it through the unconscious state of being asleep. Q : Wh i l e a s l e e p , w h e r e a mI ?Wh y c a n t I r e m e m b e r ? L e s t e r : B e c a u s e y o u b e l i e v e y o u c a n t . T h e r e a s o n i s t h a t y o u d o n t w a n t t o , b e c a u s e , u n l e s s y o u relate to the physical body and world, you believe you are a void. However, notice the fact that, a l t h o u g h y o u d r o p t h e p h y s i c a l b o d y a n d w o r l d i n s l e e p , y o u s t i l l e x i s t , d o n t y o u ? Sleep is an escape from this world of ours. As we go up into higher states of beingness, we all r e a c h a p l a c e w h e r e w e d o n t s l e e p a n y m o r e . Wh e n w e d o n o t d i s l i k e t h e w o r l d , o r s t a t e i n w h i c h w e e x i s t , t h e r e s n o n e e d t o g o t o s l e e p . How wonderful is this world, this current state of awareness if we have to escape from it every n i g h t ?E x p e r i m e n t w i t h w h a t I a ms a y i n g l e t g o o f i t a n d b e w h a t y o u a r e . B e i n f i n i t e . S t o p l o o k i n g a t t h e w o r l d a n d l o o k a t t h e I t h a t I a m . K e e p y o u r a t t e n t i o n o n t h e I t h a t I a m u n t i l y o u s e e i t f u l l y , a n d y o u l l d r o p b e i n g o n l y a p h y s i c a l b o d y w i t h a l l t h e l i m i t a t i o n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i t . Q: We keep imagining that this little limited life brings us happiness, and that helps keep us bound, d o e s n t i t ? Lester: Yes, so why do it? Everyone is seeking the infinite being that he is. You call it happiness, h a p p i n e s s w i t h n o s o r r o w . I t i s y o u r S e l f , y o u r b e i n g n e s s . Wh y n o t j u s t b e i t ?Wh y d o n t y o u d o i t ? Q : We l l , I g u e s s w e d o n t w a n t i t b a d l y e n o u g h ; w e r e a f r a i d t o g o a l l o u t . L e s t e r : T h a t s i t y o u d o n t w a n t i t e n o u g h . F o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n , y o u w a n t t o b e t h e l i m i t e d b o d y w i t h a l l i t s a d j u n c t s o f l i m i t a t i o n s i c k n e s s , t r o u b l e , a n d f i n a l l y d e a t h . R i d i c u l o u s , i s n t i t ? S o w h a t y o u a r e s a y i n g i s t h a t i f t h i s w e r e t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i n y o u r l i f e , i t w o u l d n t t a k e long to become free and infinite. But instead we all have our side tracks which keep up going in all directions. T h a t s i t . I ms a y i n g w e r e a l l y d o n t w a n t t h i s k n o w l e d g e o f o u r u n l i m i t e d s t a t e e n o u g h . T h e r e f o r e our attention is in the other directions. Q: Do you think we have resistance because we do not know exactly what is there for us? L e s t e r : Y e s a n d n o . We k n o ww e r e i n f i n i t e a n d w e r e s e e k i n g i t . I n o u r e v e r y a c t e v e r y d a y w e r e seeking this infinite being that we are. We call it happiness. If we would trace happiness down to its source, we would discover that there is no happiness in external things or people. Happiness is s o m e t h i n g w e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h i n . A n d i t s t h e r e a l l t h e t i m e i f w e j u s t d o n t c u t i t o f f b y m a k i n g i t d e p e n d e n t o n s o m e o n e l i k i n g u s , o r g e t t i n g g o l d . O n c e w e s a y , I n o r d e r f o r m y i n n e r h a p p i n e s s t o b e , I m u s t h a v e g o l d , w e c u t o f f t h a t h a p p i n e s s u n l e s s w e g e t g o l d . S o w e r e c u t t i n g o f f t h a t u n l i m i t e d h a p p i n e s s a n d s a y i n g i t s i n t h e w o r l d , i n t i n y b i t s , w h i l e a l l t h e t i m e i t s u n l i m i t e d r i g h t w i t h i n u s , n o t o u t t h e r e i n t h e w o r l d . B u t , a s y o u s a i d , w e r e s o c o n v i n c e d t h a t i t s i n t h e w o r l d t h a t o u r a t t e n t i o n i s in direction other than on the infinite Being that we are. If we really wanted to see this infinite Being that we are, our attention would be there all the time. Q: And we could be That right at that moment! Lester: Yes. At this moment, or soon, or at the very best in a month or two. And yet instead, we condemn ourselves to millions of years of misery by persisting in being the body. Q : I f o n e e x p e r i e n c e s v e r y i n t e n s e m i s e r y w h e r e e v e r y t h i n g s e e m s t o b e c u t o f f a n a w a k e n i n g c a n c o m e o u t o f t h i s s o m e t i m e s , c a n t i t ? L e s t e r : Y e s . T h a t s t h e w a y i t u s u a l l y h a p p e n s . Wh e n w e a r e i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f l i m i t a t i o n w e k e e p
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making ourselves more and more limited, until we go to extremes and think we are in danger of becoming incapacitated with something severe; with sickness or death. Then, with our determination, w h i c h e v e r y o n e h a s , w e s a y , T o h e l l w i t h t h i s ! a n d w e g o i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n . H o w e v e r , w e c o u l d and should go in the right direction out of a sense of joy and discovery. We could go in the right direction because freedom is so wonderful. Q: I think the tendency often is to try to contact the infinite and then use it to make this finite life more comfortable, pleasant, prosperous and things like that. L e s t e r : T h a t s t r u e . We t r y t o c o n t a c t o u r u n l i m i t e d p o w e r a n d t h e u s e i t t o m a k e a b e t t e r b o d y a n d world. We can make the body and world better, but we cannot achieve sustained happiness, because being subject to this body and world is being subject to limitation and non-freedom. Q : S t i l l , g e t t i n g r i d o f y o u r b o d y i s n t g o i n g t o h e l p m u c h t h o u g h , i s i t ? L e s t e r : I mn o t s u g g e s t i n g y o u d o t h a t . U n t i l y o u c o n s c i o u s l y l e a v e y o u r b o d y , i f y o u f o r c i b l y g o t rid of your body, you would just come back again through the womb and wait twenty or so years while g r o w i n g u p , b e f o r e s t a r t i n g a g a i n t o l e a r n t h a t y o u r e n o t t h e b o d y . S o f o r c i b l y d r o p p i n g t h e b o d y would be a very wrong thing to do. But to show you how much you think you are the body, just ask yourself how close you could come to throwing your body out on the highway and letting cars run over it. This will show you how convinced you are that your body is you. Q: Is it our unconscious mind that prevents us from being infinite? L e s t e r : I t s y o u , m a k i n g y o u r t h o u g h t s u n c o n s c i o u s . I s a y i t s y o u ; i t s n o t y o u r m i n d . O r , i f y o u want to argue it, show me this mind you are talking about. Where is it? And how is it holding you back? Does it have life other than you? Is it other than you? What is this thing? Y o u r e p r e v e n t i n g y o u r s e l f , w h e t h e r v i a t h e m i n d , v i a t h e b o d y , o r v i a a n y t h i n g . Y o u a r e d o i n g i t . I t s i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u t a k e f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e c a u s e , i f y o u d o n t , y o u w i l l n e v e r g e t o u t o f t h i s t r a p . Q: I understand that it is something that we have created ourselves, but it has reached such a proportion! Lester: Not it, it is you who have reached such a proportion. So long as you blame something else, y o u l l n e v e r g e t o u t o f i t . Y o u r e d o i n g i t . C a n t y o u s e e t h a t y o u c a n n o t u n d o y o u r l i m i t a t i o n a s l o n g a s y o u l l n o t t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i t ?N o m a t t e r w h a t y o u c a l l i t , w h e t h e r y o u c a l l i t m i n d , o r b o d y , you are doing it. Q : I a mt a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i t , b e c a u s e I mt r y i n g t o d o s o m e t h i n g a b o u t i t . L e s t e r : O K . A s l o n g a s y o u s a y , I mt a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , t h a t s a l l r i g h t . B u t w h e n y o u s a y , I t i s t h e m i n d , y o u a r e n o t t a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i t ; t h e n t h e m i n d i s r e s p o n s i b l e , n o t y o u . D o y o u s e e that? Q : We l l , I mr e s p o n s i b l e f o r i t ; i t s m y c r e a t i o n . L e s t e r : R i g h t . Wh o s e m i n d i s i t ?I t s y o u r s . Q : B u t s t i l l , i t h a s b e c o m e a s o r t o f F r a n k e n s t e i n t h a t s g o t t e n o u t o f h a n d . A n d i s n t t h a t w h a t stands in the way? L e s t e r : N o . Y o u d o . A s l o n g a s y o u t h i n k i t s s o m e t h i n g o t h e r t h a n y o u , y o u h a v e n o c h a n c e . A s you speak, you are convinced that the mind is doing it, and not you. Q: So we make the mistake that the mind is going to see, and the mind will never see It.
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Lester: Right! Q : A n d w e r e s o c o n d i t i o n e d t o f u n c t i o n a s m i n d , t h a t i t s e e m s t o b e t h e o n l y t o o l t h a t w e k n o ww e h a v e , a n d s o w e r e u s i n g t h e w r o n g t o o l . Lester: Right. Q: So, what we need to do is just throw the tool out. L e s t e r : R i g h t . T h e n w h a t s l e f t o v e r i s t h e i n f i n i t e y o u . T h r o wt h e t o o l o u t . I t t a k e s n o t o o l s t o b e what you are! Q : T h a t s t h e m i s t a k e ; w e k e e p t r y i n g t o d o i t w i t h t h e m i n d , b e c a u s e t h a t s t h e o n l y t h i n g w e r e familiar with. L e s t e r : I t s n o t t h e o n l y t h i n g y o u r e f a m i l i a r w i t h ; y o u a r e a l s o f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e I t h a t y o u a r e . J u s t f o c u s o n t h e w o r d I . Y o u a r e n o t y o u r m i n d . Y o u h a v e a m i n d , b u t y o u a r e a l w a y s e x p e r i e n c i n g t h i s i n f i n i t e b e i n g t h a t y o u a r e , a n d i t s t h e I . Y o u l o s e s i g h t o f t h i s i n f i n i t e I b y i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h the mind and body. Let go of identifying with your body and mind and what is right there in the pure I , i s a n i n f i n i t e b e i n g y o u . S i m p l e e n o u g h ? Q : Y o u s a y t h e I h a s b e e n f o r b i l l i o n s o f y e a r s . I s t h e I a l w a y s t h e s a m e ? L e s t e r : T h e I t h a t y o u a r e i s a l w a y s t h e s a m e c h a n g e l e s s , e t e r n a l a n d p e r f e c t . Q: It has always been the way it is, and the way it will be? L e s t e r : I t h a s a l w a y s b e e n t h a t w a y : p e r f e c t ; c h a n g e l e s s ; i m m o r t a l . A n d t h a t s w h y w e h a v e t h e tendency to think of the body that way. We try to make it perfect and immortal, even though we know w e c a n t . Q: Does the body serve a purpose? Lester: Yes, it is a vehicle that you occupy for this stage of the journey toward realization. But it hurts; it confines and this serves to redirect you back to seeing that you are infinite. The purpose of having the body is to help you learn that you have no limitation. So you conjured up the extreme limitation called the physical body, in order to learn that you have no limitation. That body is going to h u r t m o r e a n d m o r e a s y o u t h i n k t h a t y o u a r e i t , u n t i l s o m e d a y y o u s a y , T h e h e c k w i t h i t ! T h e n w i t h full determination to see what you really are, you suddenly awaken to what has always been, that you are infinite. Q : H a s t h e I a l w a y s u s e d t h e b o d y ? L e s t e r : N o , t h e I n e v e r u s e d t h e b o d y . T h e I i s c h a n g e l e s s a n d p e r f e c t . T h e I i m a g i n e d , d r e a m e d i t u s e d t h e b o d y . I t s a n i l l u s i o n ; i t s a d r e a m , b u t w h i l e y o u r e i n t h e d r e a mi t s e e m s r e a l . Wake up out of this dream. See what you are. That is the thing to do. Notice how much you ask me questions about the body? Are you aware of that? Q: In order, I guess, to define it. Lester: No, you are trying to express your infinity in terms of this extreme limitation. This is why y o u r e s t u c k . R e v e r s e i t . L e t g o o f t h e b o d y . P u t a l l y o u r a t t e n t i o n o n t h e i n f i n i t e I t h a t y o u a r e , a n d o n l y t h e n d o y o u h a v e a p o s s i b i l i t y o f s e e i n g t h e i n f i n i t e I t h a t y o u a r e . Y o u m u s t l e t g o o f t h e concept of that body being you. Q : P a i n i s a g r e a t a w a k e n e r t h e n , i s n t i t ?
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L e s t e r : Y e s . H o w e v e r , w e r e n o t a w a r e o f h o wm u c h p a i n t h e r e i s , b e c a u s e w e h a v e a c c u s t o m e d o u r s e l v e s t o i t a n d m a d e o u r s e l v e s i m m u n e t o t h e r e a l a m o u n t . B e c a u s e w e r e i n f i n i t e b e i n g s a n d w e r e t r y i n g t o b e t h i s l i m i t e d b o d y i t s v e r y p a i n f u l . A n d w h e n y o u a w a k e n f r o mt h i s d r e a m , y o u l l s e e h o wm u c h p a i n t h e r e w a s . I t s a l m o s t i n f i n i t e p a i n c o m p a r e d t o w h a t y o u r e a l l y a r e i n f i n i t e j o y . I me m p h a s i z i n g t h a t y o u s h o u l d b e n o t t h e b o d y ; y o u s h o u l d b e n o t t h e m i n d j u s t b e . Q : I n m e d i t a t i o n , d o e s n t o n e u s e t h e m i n d t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t ? Lester: Yes, however meditation is used for quieting the mind. You use the mind to quiet the mind. When the mind is quiet enough this infinite being that you are becomes obvious. That is the whole purpose of meditation. If anyone gets his mind quiet enough, he cannot help but see this infinite being t h a t h e i s b e c a u s e i t s o n l y t h e t h o u g h t s t h a t c o v e r I t . A n d t h e m i n d i s n o t h i n g b u t t h o u g h t s . S o , meditation is used to get the mind quieter, until you get it so quiet that you see your Self, your real Self. Q: Would directing the thought toward the infinite be a step to getting there? Lester: Yes. However, it is another thought. Q : I t s a n o t h e r t h o u g h t , b u t s o m e t h o u g h t s a r e m o r e G o d r e v e a l i n g t h a n o t h e r s , a r e t h e y n o t ? Lester: No thought can reveal God. Every thought hides or covers God, your Self. Every thought is a chain; nice thoughts are golden chains. A golden chain will keep you imprisoned just as much as an iron chain. You must undo all thinking. Get the mind quiet; quiet enough so the infinite being that y o u a r e i s s e l f o b v i o u s . I t s t h e r e a l l t h e t i m e . T h e t h o u g h t s a r e t h e n o i s e t h a t s c o v e r i n g i t . H o w e v e r , if you must have thoughts, a thought in the direction of God is much better than a thought in other directions, as it points you toward God. Q: But if the infinite is non-mind, how can you speak of it as infinite, because infinite is a mental concept. Lester: No. No mental thought can be infinite. Every thought is a limitation. Q: Then how can you know that you are infinite? How can you vocalize it? L e s t e r : Y o u c a n n o t m e n t a l l y c o n c e i v e o f i n f i n i t y n o r c a n y o u v o c a l i z e i t . T h a t i s i m p o s s i b l e . I t s impossible to conceive of unlimitedness. Q : We l l , i t s a n e x p e r i e n c e . L e s t e r : R i g h t , i t s n o t a t h o u g h t ; i t s a n e x p e r i e n c e , t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g i n f i n i t e . T h e m i n d c a n allude to it but cannot describe it. Any description is necessarily a limitation. Q: Where does the mind begin and where does the mind end? And where does God begin and where does God end? And where does the infinite begin and where does the infinite end? Lester: God, the Infinite, the Self, has no beginning and has no end. The mind has a beginning when you create it. It has an end when you let it go. Q: It is a painful struggle to let it go. L e s t e r : T h e p a i n c o m e s b e c a u s e y o u r e h o l d i n g o n t o i t w h i l e t r y i n g t o l e t g o o f i t . T h e h o l d i n g o n t o i t i s t h e p a i n . Wh y d o n t y o u j u s t b e w h a t y o u a r e ?Wh y q u e s t i o n m e o n t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o n t h e s t r u g g l e ?Wh y d o y o u t a l k a b o u t i t ?B e c a u s e y o u r e i n t e r e s t e d i n i t a n d y o u w o u l d l i k e m e t o r e l a t e the infinite to it.

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Q: Well then, if when you think, you just know who is thinking, that takes care of it? L e s t e r : R i g h t !D i s c o v e r w h o t h e t h i n k e r i s a n d y o u l l h a v e t h e a n s w e r . Wh e n y o u d i s c o v e r w h o t h e o n e i s t h a t h a s t h e m i n d a n d h a s t h e b o d y a n d d o e s t h e t h i n k i n g , y o u d i s c o v e r t h e r e a l y o u a n infinite being. So look away from the body! Look away from the mind! Look toward the beingness that you are and never stop until you fully discover that Thou Art That!

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 I f y o u c o u l d s t o p t h i n k i n g f o r o n e m o m e n t , y o u w o u l d d i s c o v e r w h a t y o u a r e . Lester Levenson
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