Dialogues with Dominic - I Am That, Wow, Going All In

On this blog, there have been a series of "Dialogues with Dominic" (real name), detailing the progress, challenges, and understandings toward nondual awakening for a 30-something, married guy w/kid(s), working in a high-pressure, confrontational, managerial role in a large city office. 

These Dialogues covered our working together by e-mail over a year following his earlier 2 years of 15 - 30 minutes/day, 3 - 5 times/week meditation.   When we began working, he meditated longer/more often and put self-inquiry into every part of his work and life.  (Meditation totaled about 250 hrs, w/his during-the-day adding another 600 hrs.)  

The blogposts were:

           a)   DIY nondual awakening w/big job, family, 3 yrs on/off practice...
           b)   Dialogues w/Dominic...DIY nondual awakening w/job, family...
           c)   Nondual awakening experiences - Dominic DIY dialogues
           d)   Working in a 'big job' w/family, w/o thoughts - Dialogue with Dominic
           e)   Dominic's awakening continues...dangerous confrontation, tears, guilt, fear, letting go...
           f)   Dialogues w/Dominic - religion, dreams, wanting, coming out"

As it has been over a year since the last post, here is a summary, in chronological order, newest first, over the last two months with Dominic's titles:

I Am That I Am

Dominic:  I am. That I am.

“Now and Now”.   Now...pure realization of the statement.  Nothing changes.  Consistent zone/flow.

There is One.  It cannot be mine.  As soon as it's mine, it is not One.   It is the best description when I am.

And yes, it is the best game in town. . . . .

Thought immediately wants to take center stage in the dance of Being. 

Don't buy into the story and stay true to the path.   Then, there will be no wishes or concerns with how One feels.

Thank you-Gary.

Re: Happiness Beyond Thought

D:  Thoughts refer to the self-troubling thoughts that rely on a personal I/me/my agenda which blind one to the joy that lies within.

Who am I? Where am I? Why am I? When am I? are questions to ask towards the journey.

Upon finding an "answer", it may be seen that it all is created as a magnificent nothing with no answers to any questions.   The one who questions is not real.

Can this be explained to the masses in group discussion, contemplation, meditation, conversation, blog posts, videos?  Maybe. 

IME, not until i was at the point of utter surrender and willing to be open to a simple task from you, was i able to truly tip the iceberg and progress to who She is and what She has in store.   

Persistence with a practice will go a long way to achieving freedom from thought. 

Spending an hour, day, or week with little to no self-referential thoughts is beautiful and ultimately the answer to all questions.  As soon as it is recognized and labeled, it ceases, as the trained mind attempts to take credit, and regain territory.

It is the best game in town and it expands exponentially.  These words are spoken from utmost humility, for taking credit is usually something difficult.

     

Self-Inquiry has taken a form of its own w/very little "effort”.  Would encourage those open, who have a ripe soul, to question what is actually true.  Is anything true and if so, how does one "know"?

Did you choose to be "born"?   If you do choose things in life, when did you start?  10, 8, 5 years old..?  Did you make a conscious effort to start choosing every action?  Do you choose to walk or does walking just happen?  Do you choose to breathe each breath? 

Are you really in control of anything? 

Ramana Maharshi
At the age he wrote
"Who am I?"

"Your own self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world."  

"Wanting to reform the world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes."  

                                                      Ramana Maharshi

IME, giving up I/me/my thoughts and surrendering to self-inquiry to the best of my ability was the greatest gift. 

Is it possible to have no imagination?  A possibility of no past or future?   A clean slate perhaps.  A flow of life so serendipitous that every moment reveals a stillness beyond words.

There is one direct path to this Truth and it encompasses elimination of all that is not real.  The root lies at thoughts about an imaginary "I" that ceases to exist.  Try as you may, the illusion is really nowhere to be found. 

Just be without outside interference and rest in Her as much as perseverance will allow. 

A couple of great days of minimal thoughts.  The auto-pilot self-inquiry has also expanded from not just tackling the "heavy" sticky thoughts, but even the semi-sticky ones to even the littlest bits of I/me/my thoughts.   It is taking on a life all its own with no doer whatsoever. 

i still walk, talk, write, and move body parts, but inquiry is behind the scenes not allowing a doer to take credit for the action. 

Blogpost/Friendship

D: Enjoying the most recent blogpost.  Touched home in the most serendipitous time.

A friend is struggling w/coming to terms with life. He feels lost, confused, searching, and basically unhappy.  

For the first time, he and i had a conversation about the truth of those inner thoughts, emotions and stories that "rule" the everyday life of beings caught in the web of thoughts. 

We shared our perceptions of one another from a place of honesty.  He was willing to surrender and do anything to alleviate the suffering.  i began slow and w/the basics.  There was acceptance and opening as he listened intently and was humble in his responses.

Who knows if it will blossom?

i woke up today w/no thoughts and a true zest for life.

What an amazing feeling to be 100% open and present to another being. 

WOW

D: How can one not fall in love with it all?   The absolute utter mystery.   The absolute fact that nothing is in our control.  Resting in this Truth, as i have been blessed to be offered the light of understanding.

 G:  "That laughter you hear in the background is God listening to your plans."   

It is such a beautiful mystery how it all unfolds once you realize that it is totally out of our control.  It is such a struggle if we believe we are in control, and continue to fail and fail at achieving our "plans" - all we have to do is recognize the Truth and it becomes a dance.   

Hi

D:  The brain has developed a good skill set for auto-self inquiry.   Thoughts arise and self-inquiry just happens about 50% of the time. The other 50% requires remembering “Who am I?”.

Feels like great progress from 3-4 years ago.   Definitely not 100% surrender. Fear still lurks in hidden corners.   Fearful at the edge of the diving board, yet somewhere inside know that the splash isn't painful and the water is warm and refreshing.

Going "All In"

Just can't manage to put all the chips on the table. Persistence has been of utmost importance.  No turning back now, but there is a little holding on that won't let go. Praying for the courage to finally surrender everything.

i have perspective on this "practice" because I been blessed w/a taste of the peace, stillness, presence, etc. that lies within and beyond. Thankful/grateful for those moments.

Working like a mad man lately. Recently did 19 days straight including weekends of 12 hr/day.  

Find peace in remembering that there is no free will to choose an outcome.  Not always easy to remember this Truth but helpful when it happens.

A brave path this is. Relinquishing the false is no easy task.  At times it is very clear and easy and others it is cloudy and difficult.   Won't stop and we'll see what happens.

G:  Yes, i was also frightened to go "all in" as I was afraid that i might end up along some road, lying in the gutter, drooling, for all i knew.

When i did go "all in", i was much more capable at work as i was the only folk fully present in meetings - what emerged spontaneously when i spoke was more innovative and creative than it had ever been. 

  

The "auto inquiry" is a common report as the brain finds that it has a great tool to get rid of problematic emotions, memories and thoughts.  

It soon learns to ZAP them as soon as they appear, almost before "you" are able to recognize the problem.

Yes, whatever happens is totally out of your control.  All you can do is be fully present and let go of the worry as all it does is detract from your life.  

i was never able to successfully, accurately predict the future, so i just gave up on it.  It was always different from my predictions.

As described earlier, Dominic revealed his identity and contact information and welcomes discussions as described in his "Call to Action". 



BTW, there will be another open, on-line, Q&A, Dialogue on Awakening Beyond Thought, w/Rich Doyle and i, on Tues, May 5 @ 5:00 pm PDT/8:00 pm EDT.   It will also be on youTube  a week or so later.

BTW 2, all of the Dialogues with Dominic are in Dominic's new book "Dialogues with Dominic: A Chronicle of Inquiry and Awakening" along with dialogues that occurred after the posts, and dialogues of Dominic with the editor of the book, who i have also worked with for some time.