Dialogues w/Dominic - religion, dreams, wanting, coming out

we've been watching Dominic's (real name) awakening unfold in several Dialogues w/Dominic blogposts ("Working in a 'big job' w/family, w/o thoughts", "DIY nondual awakening w/big job, family, 3 yrs, on/off practice"), etc., covering his experiences after working together for about a year of e-mail communication after his 2 years of 15 - 30 minutes/day for 3 - 5 days/week meditation.  

When we began working, he became more diligent and put self-inquiry into every aspect of work and family life.  (About 250 hrs total meditation; his during-the-day program for 1 yr probably adds another 600 hrs.)  Dominic's awakening continues to unfold, and his Dance continues.  

Dominic has decided to "come out" and reveal his identity as will be disclosed below.  These are recent interchanges (redacted) w/Dominic's e-mail subject titles; my comments are in italics...


Ramana 

Dominic

As Ramana said "If you go on working with the light available, you will meet your Master, as he himself will be seeking you."

In your experience what has this taught you?

Ramana Maharshi

When we speak of “no thoughts”, do we mean they actually disappear or that the relationship with them is different so they are no longer "ours" so they no longer cause any "issues". 

"My" relationship is dissolving. . .not dissolving in a negative light. It is the dissolving of me. 

Think a certain amount of pain is needed.   "Karma" works its way out.

As real as we want it to be.

Gary

Another famous Ramana quote is "However hard you believe you are struggling to reach the Self, realize that the inner Self is pulling you inward much stronger."      

Folk manifest for "me" when, and for as long as, She wants them to.  Some stay for a while, some move away and then return, or not, perfectly as it is, just as She needed for it to be.    

For me, "no thoughts" is simple - no ongoing self-referential internal narrative (SRIN), 'blah, blah".  That's not metaphorical, or that i have a different relationship w/them, or they aren't "mine".  They aren't there for the vast majority of the time.  It is a clear, unequivocal measurement and is readily available.  

As long as there are problematic, "sticky", SRIN thoughts, even if they are relatively quiet and can be ignored most of the time, there is work to be done.  There is still an "I/me/my" w/in those thoughts, w/attachments, hanging around, hiding out.  

There is no prohibition on "non sticky" planning or problem solving thoughts, w/o an emotionally-involved I/me/my, which may be useful for folk and are not problematic.  However, even they are less necessary than one might believe.   (See video "What 'no thoughts' means - 3 different kinds of thoughts")

Pain is not "needed"...who would need it and why?  As "you" are dissolving, what would need pain?

There was a blogpost on no sin, no karma ("no sin, no karma, no good deeds, no bad deeds").   If there is no "doer", who would cause karma, or have it?

Dream 

Dominic

Thanks.   Persistence is the key in this path.  Continue to press on diligently.  Will not stop. 

Had a dream.   Ramana writing in the sand with a stick. . . clear as day and looked just like the pictures.   i tried to interpret the dream… Sanskrit, sand/stick, sand, stick, etc.   After a few minutes inquiry occurred and it was let go.

It was comforting, very comforting. 

Will not stop.  In fact, don't have a choice. 

Gary

Remember that dreams are a product/projection of your "mind"/brain.   

Dreams played no role in my process and i don't have them often, as least not that i recall.   

Our neuroscience tells us that dreams are fragments of memories that the brain is removing.   They get stuck together in interesting rearrangements “in the same garbage bag” w/no real meaning.

The one w/Ramana is interesting.   i mentioned in a blogpost that he wrote the answers in "Who Am I?" in the sand with his finger as he wasn't speaking at the time.   your mind reconstructed it.

Dreams are illusions…after all, where are they now?  

She is Forever

Dominic

When there is no “I” to see, sight is restored. 

Get rid of your eye(I) and you will see, for the “I” is blind.

When there is nothing left, She reveals what is here.

She is magnificent.  Perfect.

Surrendering to the best of my ability.

He Sacrificed Himself

Jesus died, let go of his “I” and pointed others in the direction to do the same.  Just let go.  Say good-bye.  There is no other way.  There is no other.  

There just is falling into Grace.  Holding on lightly to it all.

Unfolding 

The onion is getting peeled and it is just about through.   Funny thing is. . . what is left is more than could be imagined.

Why didn't you tell me it was this beautiful in this place?

No longer driving the bus. . .

Nice to have a teacher or whatever this communication is called.

How Beautiful

We let go of the thought of our self and see who we really are.

We see our Self when we let go of our self.

“Nothing else to do” sometimes seems like an insane idea until you realize you aren't doing anything.   For a while this “I”, or whatever it's called, fights it until there is no more fighting left.  The “I” is perceived as being tough until it is seen as nothing. 

Understand what you meant the other day when you said i already know enough.

Also see what it means when you and i communicate back and forth.   It really is us talking with our Self.  It truly is, and the more this rings true, the more i literally want to hug people that are in my presence.  

Wanting

No wanting of things from others.   How could one want from the Self?

Seeing this for the first time. Actually living in this mode.   

As you say, or shall i say, perfect, really perfect.

There is no one else here...you, me, the wives, the kids, the grand kids.  Problems occur when the thought of another happens.

Understand now and it feels oh, so fine. 

There is no other...how radical when appearances are otherwise.

Gary

Yes, being present as the thought of "another" appears, is striking - so different, so disruptive.  It gets much easier to see this, as you have found, as one gets more still and present.

All of it is Her, there is no "other".

A Thing Just Happened  

Dominic

A thing just happened and i broke into laughter…I Am. 

Not just "I am" but "I Am".

As Jesus said , “I am the way and the truth and the light.”  Not I but he.  Not Dominic but Self.  The self "I Am." 

Nothing else to do G.  Guidance would be good here maybe.

Gary

If there's nothing else to do, and you are just "I Am", what guidance could be offered?   And who would receive it?

Cracking Up

Dominic

Cracking up laughing that i put a label on what you and i have been conversing about over time.  We have been talking about nothing but life.  Ourselves.  Who we are…trials, tribulations, worries, concerns, about nothing. 

Amazing that you have listened this long.  Listening to babble about little quirks that mean nothing.

Smiles.   So very happy.

Enjoy the friendship.

Gary

Yes, it's just Her talking, babbling, etc. about imaginary worries, concerns, and "nothing" with Herself.  She seems to enjoy it; it's what She does.

Expansion

Dominic 

I don't know everything, but know everything.  Does that make sense?  Answers are arising before or as soon as questions arise. 

Do not feel prepared for this at this moment.   Could you elaborate from your experience? 

Gary

If the answers arise before or as soon as the questions do, and you "know everything", why do you need any help w/that? 

Relax and surrender into the wonder of it all. 

People

Dominic

There seem to be a lot of people interested in "our stuff" that want to try and act like they have it figured out…like they have an answer.   

you have been my "teacher" but never really told me anything but a few simple practices.   There was also never a claim of absolute understanding.   Just experience from a perspective.   Just a deep acceptance of whatever i threw at you and a gentle push in a direction.

IME, i chuckle a little when someone makes a claim to know something.  As soon as one claims to "know", or own an idea, then it is no longer.

No one can truly know any thing.

After deep inquiry, all i have come to know is, no thing. 

Smiling again these days. 

Gary

Yes, if you've looked at the videos from the two panel discussions @ SAND - Europe, you can see how different the perspectives are.   (See blogposts "Living w/an absolute perspective in an absolute world...three different perspectives" and "What is 'Enlightenment'?  three very different answers".)

Religion

Dominic

Funny experience today.

A member of the church called and asked to speak with me regarding my faith in Jesus.

i was asked the question "If you were standing before Jesus, and he asked you why you deserve to go to heaven. What would your answer be?"

i responded, "i don't know".

Had to hold back the smile and laughter.

Way beyond all the church/religion stuff.

Took me a long while to see past and beyond.

The perspective we talk about is so much simpler and so much more.

As soon as we say we are something then it is not who we are. 

Brought clarity to the point that we just are.

“I don't know” is a fine answer, and being OK with not knowing is even better.

Life is sweet because it is not "mine". 

Dropping the idea of a personal “I” seemed like a challenge at times, but this small "sacrifice" has invited the entire universe to be.

Intl. Man of Mystery
(not Dominic)

As mentioned above, Dominic has decided to "come out", reveal his identity and contact information and welcome discussions as described in his attached "Call to Action".   Doubtless some folk have wondered if "Dominic" is a creation, an "International Man of Mystery"; this should remove that doubt.  

As i have mentioned many times, i do not see value in "levels" of attainment, titles, sanctions, etc. as everyone, "myself" included, is a unique "work in progress" on a continuing journey of unfolding.  There are many posts on Dialogues w/Dominic, so you can check him out and (apparently) decide if you would like to communicate w/him.    



BTW, the problem w/comments to the blog has been fixed by my CA-based IT source, Suzanne Winters.  Many thanks Suzanne, who is also working on the website. 

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.