An

Enlightened Drunk?

Hi Ted!

For almost 3 years ago I had contact with Vedanta. Through the teachings
of Ramana Maharshi I have understood the implications of them. To me the
world and everything in it is Nirvana. I accept everything as a manifestation
of God.

Ted: So far so good. It is, however, worth pointing out that though
Ramana was without a doubt a realized being, he was not a very effective
teacher. That is, he never really laid out the full teaching of Vedanta in a
systematic way that followed a logical progression and thereby offered a
practical means for a seeker to free himself from the whirlpool of samsara
(i.e. the inevitably fruitless pursuit of seeking lasting peace and happiness
through the enjoyment of objects). But, again, the vision of non-duality
revealed by Vedanta does see i.e. know everything as a manifestation
of awareness. The question to consider in this light is whether you know
yourself to be that awareness within which the entire manifestation
including Jorge and God are appearing and of which it is made. There is
only one self. And though God is its highest manifestation, God is still no
more than the macrocosmic creative power within awareness.

Now concerning that curious object called Jorge...

Juan: I'm a drinker. I drink and I have fun. Always have. So I dedicate
my Fridays to Samsara, to God, to joy. I know that everything is the light.
I'm the light as well as you, the trees, even the bottle of sake or wine. I like
the world.

Ted: Nothing wrong with enjoying the world. In fact, Ramana said
something to the effect that for the jnani (i.e. self-realized being) there are
only bhoga (i.e. enjoyment) vasanas (i.e. Inclinations or tendencies based
on likes and dislikes, desires and fears). This means that the one who
knows his true identity as awareness knows that he is whole and complete

as he is and that he needs nothing in the world to complete him or make

him happy. He is happy however things are because he knows that the
happiness is not a product of the object (i.e. material object, thought,
emotion, encounter, experience, circumstance, or situation) but is his very
own nature. In short, the jnani does seek happiness in the world, but
enjoys his own happiness through the world.

With this in mind, you might contemplate whether you drink to have fun or
have an experience of fun while drinking. If it happens to be the latter,
then you might ask yourself why drinking is even an issue. Why not forget
the drinking altogether and go straight for the unadulterated fun that is
your true nature? Im not saying that drinking is bad, but to be honest
there is no scripture that advocates drinking as a valid means of cultivating
lasting happiness. A predominately pure, clear, and alert mind is needed to
fully assimilate self-knowledge, and alcohol is a substance that has a dulling
effect on the mind.

Moreover, if you are a sincere seeker of truth, why do you dedicate -- this
is a pretty strong word one day a week to samsara? If you are truly
seeing God in the booze and babes (or whatever is involved), then it
wouldnt be a samsaric endeavor.

To be honest, this is a really fine line we are walking here. Because I dont
know you, I cannot say what your motivations are regarding drinking and
partying. And it is true that there have reputedly been reputed realized
beings who partook in what might be interpreted as less-than-saintly
behaviors (e.g. Nisargadatta Maharaj chain smoked). But that is not to say
that such behavior is advisable for one seeking liberation.

If you are already free and only you know that then there may be
drinking and partying vasanas that are part of the residual prarabdha karma
that has yet to play out through the mind-body-sense complex that is
identified as Jorge. But using an erroneous claim to enlightenment as an
excuse to indulge binding vasanas that stand in the way of liberation is just
another way in which the ego can co-opt enlightenment and continue to
bullshit itself into believing that freedom is for Juan rather than from Jorge.

That is, the ego will entice Juan into believing that enlightenment means he
can do whatever he wants rather than being free of wants to the degree
that they are binding desires that control one and compel one to act at
their behest altogether.

Ted: You will have to man up and take a fierce moral inventory if you
want to settle this issue for yourself.

Juan: I bought James book How to Attain Enlightenment, and it was so
cool about karma yoga. I'm still reading it.

Ted: Great! Dont skip ahead because you want to fully assimilate the logic
of the whole presentation, BUT be sure to pay careful attention to the
chapters on the ropes (i.e. Gunas) and lifestyle. Understanding these
chapters are vital to answering your question.

Juan: Can I be a saint, following the program the God (Iswara) has given to
me?

Ted: Yes, this is actually the only way you can do it. You cannot simply
deny your nature and repress your tendencies. However, you need to
observe them and work with them in the light of self-knowledge. Neither
repression nor over-indulgence work. Both extremes only serve to agitate
the mind. But as Swami Chinmayananda used to say one must learn to sin
intelligently. Conserve your energy and clarify your mind as much as
possible and if a desire is too strong to resist indulge it moderately. Be
honest with yourself about who you really are and what you want. If you
want liberation/enlightenment, then act in accordance with the teachings.

Juan: Feeling amazing always and but not following any classic rules
of behavior?

Ted: There are no classic rules of behavior for one who knows who he is.
There is dharma, however, and it is highly unlikely that a self-realized
person would act in a way that violates dharma. So, again, you have to ask
yourself whether or not your drinking and associated behavior dharmic (i.e.
what is best for you and in alignment with your true identity as whole and

complete, limitless, actionless, ordinary, unborn, non-dual, all-pervasive

awareness).

Juan: If there is an enlightened drunk, not I but my mind is one, and I feel
free to drink or not and I chose too.

Ted: The enlightened one is drunk on his own self and doesnt need an
object to make him happy. Drinking has nothing to do with being
enlightened. If you choose to drink, then admit that it is because either you
are not enlightened and are too addicted to it not to say that you are an
alcoholic, but that your vasana for drinking is binding if you are unable to
give it up to quell the behavior, or that you are enlightened and simply
dont give a shit about the manner in which your remaining prarabdha
karma plays out. But dont bullshit yourself that you are an enlightened
drunk.

Juan: Could you please explain to me the implication of the behavior of my
program and the notion of enlightenment that I have?

Ted: I think Ive pretty much addressed the issues. But I will add that it is
my hunch that the drinking isnt the behavior of an enlightened person. If it
way, you wouldnt be questioning whether it can be a part of your path.
You would know that it either works or it doesnt work with regard to
liberation. You would know that you are free and so the question would
never arise.

There is a difference between the freedom of the individual to do anything
he wants and the freedom that comes from knowing that you are not the
individual whom you have taken yourself to be. Only you know whether
you are free or not. But my suggestion assuming you want
liberation/enlightenment is to read and re-read How to Attain
Enlightenment and be completely honest with yourself about your
motivations, what you want, and what behaviors will best serve that goal.
And feel free to write me with any questions that may arise in the process.

Ultimately, enlightenment is not a matter of action or behavior, but of
knowledge. However, the assimilation of self-knowledge does require a

relatively pure mind. So it is best to cultivate a lifestyle and execute actions

that serve to calm the mind and give it clarity. Then the reflection of the
self can be seen and the knowledge it produces secured.

Juan: I don't care about the modern (old) rules of the saints. In Samsara
God reflects creativity and because of that I'm one with him, seeing the
originality of his play or joke.

Ted: Yeah, well, understand the joke, but dont be the joke.

Juan: Thank you for you time

Sincerely and kindly yours,
Juan

Ted: All the best to you, Juan.