Foundational advice from Sri Nisargadatta. Turn within. "I am" you know.

 

Nisargadatta Maharaj, a renowned teacher of Advaita Vedanta, emphasized the importance of turning within and focusing on the "I am" as a fundamental practice for self-realization. He advised:

"Turn within. 'I am' you know. Be with it all the time you can spare, until you revert to it spontaneously. There is no simpler and easier way." 179

This practice involves:

1. Concentrating on the sense of "I am," which is the basic fact of one's existence.

2. Giving undivided attention to oneself, as the center of one's personal universe 5.

3. Rejecting all that does not necessarily go with the basic fact: "I am" 3.

Nisargadatta explained that the "I am" is a thought, while awareness is not a thought2. He suggested that by repeatedly focusing on "I am," one can establish the mind firmly in this thought-feeling 3. This practice helps to:

• Turn the mind away from external distractions

• Realize that everything starts with the ego, and when the ego is dropped, everything drops 4

• Move beyond the limitations of individual identity

The ultimate goal is to reach a state where even the "I am" dissolves, leaving only pure awareness 27. Nisargadatta stated, "Ultimately even the 'I am' will have to go, for you need not keep asserting what is obvious." 6

Citations:

1. https://www.byronevents.net/nisargadatta/that1.htm
2. https://zenawakened.com/the-i-am-concept-the-root-of-samsara/
3. https://www.advaita.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Instructions-from-I-AM-THAT.pdf
4. https://www.yesvedanta.com/ramana-maharshi-nisargadatta-quotes/
5. https://stillnessspeaks.com/images/uploaded/file/iamquotesofnisargadatta.pdf
6. https://innerspiritualawakening.com/nisargadatta-maharaj/
7. https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/I-Am-That-by-Sri-Nisargadatta-Maharaj.pdf
8. https://newearthpulse.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/i-amness-is-the-prime-concept-nisargadatta/
9. https://www.headless.org/Biographies/nisargadatta.htm
10. https://advaita.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/1-I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj-Resumo.pdf

Existence

 

Existence

Existence is the state of having being or reality, in contrast to nonexistence and non-being. It is a fundamental concept in philosophy, particularly in ontology, which studies the nature and types of existence.

: Existence refers to the state of being real or participating in reality1. It distinguishes real entities from imaginary ones and can apply to both individual entities and the totality of reality.

:

1. Singular existence: Refers to the existence of individual entities, such as a specific person.

2. General existence: Pertains to general concepts, properties, or universals.

3. Concrete existence: Entities present in space and time.

4. Abstract existence: Entities like numbers and sets that are not spatiotemporally located.

:

• Some philosophers argue that existence is a second-order property (a property of properties), while others view it as a first-order property (a property of individuals).

• Debates exist about whether there are degrees of existence or if entities simply exist or do not exist.

• The concept of existence has been discussed throughout the history of philosophy, including in ancient Greek, Indian, and Chinese traditions.

: Existence is often contrasted with essence, nonexistence, nothingness, and nonbeing.

:

• Possible existence: Entities that could exist but do not.

• Contingent existence: Entities that exist but could fail to exist.

• Necessary existence: Entities that must exist or could not fail to exist.

:

• The nature of existence and its relation to being, reality, and actuality is a subject of ongoing philosophical debate.

• Some philosophers argue that existence is an elementary concept that cannot be defined without circularity1.

• The question of why there is something rather than nothing remains a fundamental philosophical inquiry1.

Existence continues to be a central topic in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and existentialism, challenging our understanding of reality and our place within it.

Citations:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existence
2. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existence/
3. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/existence
4. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/existence
5. https://iep.utm.edu/existenc/
6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402107/
7. https://www.reddit.com/r/Existentialism/comments/18wlz2x/what_is_existence/
8. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/existence

Noting and Labelling with "I Am": A Subtle Yet Powerful Approach

Noting and Labelling with "I Am": A Subtle Yet Powerful Approach

In the realm of mindfulness and self-inquiry, noting and labeling are powerful techniques used to cultivate awareness and clarity. Typically, these methods are applied to sensory experiences—thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations—but they can also be directed toward deeper layers of consciousness. One particularly potent subtle object for practice is the phrase "I am."

By breaking this phrase down into its two components—“I” and “am”—we open up different avenues of investigation, each leading to unique insights about the nature of self and existence. This approach can be an efficient method for engaging with Nisargadatta Maharaj’s "I Am" practice, where the ultimate goal is to rest in the sense of presence prior to identification with form and concept.

Noting "I" vs. Noting "Am"

When using noting and labelling with the phrase “I am,” we can explore it in two distinct ways:

1. Noting "I"

   • When the emphasis is placed on "I," awareness naturally inclines toward the sense of personal identity.

   • Noting "I" repeatedly reveals the habitual self-referencing structure of the mind—associations, personal narratives, and the feeling of an individual entity navigating experience.

   • This can lead to deeper insights into attachment, ego formation, and how the mind constructs a sense of separate self.

2. Noting "Am"

   • When the emphasis shifts to "am," the focus moves toward pure beingness—existence itself without attachment to form.

   • Noting "am" can dissolve conceptual layers, leading to an experience of presence beyond identity.

   • This shift often brings about a direct taste of stillness, simplicity, and the formless awareness that Nisargadatta refers to as the doorway to the Absolute.

Efficiency in the "I Am" Practice

Nisargadatta Maharaj’s primary instruction was to abide in the sense of “I Am” without adding any conceptual layers to it. While simple in description, many practitioners find it challenging to avoid intellectualizing or drifting into subtle mental elaborations.

By employing noting and labeling, we create a structured way to refine attention:

• If distractions arise, simply note “thinking” or “distracted” and return to the felt sense of “I Am.”

• If identification strengthens, noting “I” can illuminate where grasping occurs.

• If presence deepens, noting “Am” allows attention to stabilize in pure beingness.

This method minimizes unconscious wandering and keeps practice on track, making the inquiry both rigorous and accessible.

Beyond Noting: Resting in the Unlabelled

While noting is an efficient way to sharpen awareness, the ultimate goal of the "I Am" practice is to abide in pure presence without interference. Once clarity stabilizes, the need for labeling naturally falls away. At this stage, resting in the silent knowing of “I Am” without effort becomes possible.

By using noting as a stepping stone, practitioners can move beyond words into direct experience—where the simple recognition of existence unfolds into the profound realization that Nisargadatta so often pointed to.

---

This refined approach offers a bridge between mindfulness techniques and deep self-inquiry, making it a practical yet profound method for those on the path of awakening. Whether one is exploring the nature of self or dissolving into pure being, noting and labeling provide a valuable toolset for navigating the subtleties of "I Am."

Could noting and labelling (or mindfulness practices) be used within Nisargadatta's "I am" approach?

 

I really liked this response to the following question, thanks to AI reasoning:

Q: Could noting and labeling (as per Buddhist meditation practice such as Mahasi noting) work with noting and labeling the "I am" (as Nisargatdatta taught with his teachings on the "I am")?

A: Yes, noting and labeling could be applied to the "I am" in a way that aligns with Mahasi-style insight meditation and Nisargadatta’s teachings.

How This Would Work

1. Noting the "I am" as an Object of Awareness

   • In Mahasi noting, you label experiences as they arise (e.g., "thinking," "hearing," "pain").
   • You could note "I am" as a phenomenon when it naturally appears in awareness.
   • If identification arises, note "identifying" or "selfing."

2. Seeing the "I am" as Impermanent and Not-Self

   • Traditional Buddhist noting is designed to reveal impermanence, suffering, and not-self (anicca, dukkha, anatta).
   • By noting the "I am" in real-time, you might see that it is an arising and passing event—not a fixed reality.

3. Going Deeper into Nisargadatta’s Approach

   • Nisargadatta suggests staying with the "I am" without conceptualizing it.
   • Noting might initially create distance, making you aware that the sense of "I am" is an experience, not the ultimate truth.
   • Eventually, the goal would be to drop even the label and abide in pure being.

Potential Challenge

• Over-Conceptualization: Noting could reinforce a dualistic observer, keeping "I am" at the level of mind instead of allowing direct abidance in it.
• Solution: Use noting only to dissolve identification, then let awareness rest naturally in the "I am."

Conclusion

Yes, noting and labeling could help deconstruct the habitual identification with "I am" and reveal its transient nature. However, at some point, Nisargadatta’s approach invites you to go beyond noting and simply be the "I am" in its purest form.

Leonard Jacobson and his teachings and approach to being present, presence, and present moment awareness.

 Leonard Jacobson and related teachings and themes

I am summarizing some points, themes, and keywords from some recent research on Leonard Jacobson's teachings. LJ kept appearing on some of my information feeds over the last few years, and it was time to examine what he was saying and the approaches he used to achieve the teaching's aims.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Leonard Jacobson and his approach to spirituality and awakening. It's a very relevant message- the power and very important need to be here now, to show up and be present in one's daily activities and life experience. I was impressed with how LJ constantly delivers this message as the first thing in all of his talks, writings, and teachings-- the simple need to be present, and importantly, that this can be done with minimal fuss by stopping and noticing what is present and here now (via the senses).

The teaching is fairly simple- wake up from the dream of the mind, out of imagination, discursive thinking, self stories, etc., and into the reality of the present moment, beingness, and what's happening now. 

This is actually an "I am" type of teaching, with some mindfulness involved in the initial stages, then settling on the "I am" presence. Some shadow-work is also involved in Step (2), which deals with the 'ego' or individual / programmed 'self' on a psychological level with practices such as forgiveness, acceptance, and relating.

This message isn't new or unusual. It is a common aim in spiritual circles and is wide enough to encompass any number of other schools and teachers, from Buddhism to contemporaries like Eckhart Tolle, Barry Long, and many many others. In fact, while listening to LJ, I kept being reminded of ET and Barry Long repeatedly. I had to work out if LJ was somehow tapping into ET and BL or if he had something new to bring to the table in his teaching or approach. I am sure there's no overt connection, as LJ seems to describe his own awakening experience in detail in a few podcasts, and doesn't mention much about his own teacher(s) apart from that awakening, however, one can't help but notice the uncanny resemblance to a few other western teachers who also founded their teaching on the 'present moment' approach.

Some history I gathered from various sources:

- LJ got into J Krishnamurti at some point in the 80s or before

- had a series of non-traditional awakenings, mostly in nature and on retreat, and highly personal and mystical in content (religious, etc)

- began his career as a spiritual teacher, writing books, running retreats, etc., and is pretty much a full-time task at present, noted that LJ is in his 80s now.

Some key points in LJ's teachings:

- There is a 2 step process that LJ uses for awakening (although this is not the way that LJ himself 'woke up'). Step one involves becoming present both in the senses, and then in beingness or "I am"ness. Step two involves becoming aware of how and when one is removed from the above state of presence, and how to resolve such obstacles.

- Our natural state is to be awake, present, undistracted by the personal story, and connected to one's ever-present state of being

There is more emphasis on relaxing tension and effort rather than striving for any future state. Meditation and pathways are mostly discouraged.

These teachings accommodate both ordinary reality via the senses and metaphysical reality through religious and spiritual concepts (e.g., soul, incarnations, other realities and planes of existence, God, etc.).

- There's a community effect or a social effect related to presence, and the invitation to become 'present'

- LJ repeatedly comes back to the basics of being physically and mentally present, via the senses and physical environment as a way to disengage from the mind, habitual thinking, mental distractions, and obstacles to being grounded in the present moment. This is probably the core point in the teaching. The instructions around this are basic and minimal, and there is only one type of meditation that is used (which is related to being aware of the body and breathing and moving to an awareness of one's conscious existence or being)

- There's nothing special about awakening, enlightenment, or being present (ie in this definition of the word(s))

- Just by being present, one's personal story is transformed 

- LJ's teachings have evolved from the start of his teaching career to the present.

The good:

- Uses simple, easy-to-understand language, while avoiding most spiritual jargon and concepts

- Approachable directly, LJ is directly communicating with people and his students via various communications media

- Easy to follow teachings and approach, appeals to a large variety of people

- The teachings and practices cover a large amount of territory but are logically arranged so that they deliver on the goals that LJ sets forth, which is a good thing and points to the consistency of his message (being present in the now and understanding one's true nature)

- Speaks plainly about his own awakening experiences in various talks and interviews

- Great intro into awareness, awakening, and present moment awareness for beginners and those starting off on the journey of awakening

- Has a good deal of material that students can delve into to get the gist of his teachings and approach. A large amount of this is freely available.

- Is constant in his message and emphasizes the simple approach to being present and showing up for life without being lost in the world of the mind, distraction, thought, concepts, and much of what defines humanity now. This is even more important now that most people are completely consumed by electronic and digital devices and media channels (ie. by design by billion-dollar companies who want to take 24x7 control of people's attention to boost revenue and achieve their own corporate aims).

Some small concerns:

- At various points, LJ seems dismissive of meditation and practices in general and gives reasoning related to meditation being a focus on the future, an obstacle to being present, an effort and a journey, etc., etc. -- most of these reasons are common in the neo-advaita type schools. He seems to miss the point that meditation can also be a way to efficiently train the mind to actually be present more frequently and more deeply. OTOH, he does make use of various mini-meditations and contemplations such as "the ego meditation", "the anger meditation", and "the presence meditation" etc., which are done during retreats or at different times. His own 'presence meditation', which he conducts at the start of some sessions is, in fact, a mindfulness-type meditation (breath awareness). It's possible to acknowledge that meditation can have pitfalls, but also serve as an essential tool on the path. Personally, I can't think of any more effective means than structured forms of mindfulness meditation for training the mind to recognize when it is lost in thought, stories, emotion, etc., and return to the experience of just being in the present. Further, even small sessions can build up the required mental muscles of concentration, equanimity, and clarity of sense experience.. the very things that these sorts of teachings require.

- Overly simplistic approach, with little long-term development of meditation skills needed to deeply penetrate one's experience. The approach of 'just being physically present' within one's environment with the senses is fine. However, this alone rarely leads to awakening or a permanent shift in one's way of being due to much stronger habits of thought, tendencies, mental triggers, emotional events, etc. (in Sanskrit- vasanas and samskaras). This is the same issue that others such as Eckhart Tolle have with advising simplistic methods of being present and the carrot of 'awakening' following these simplistic methods, that doesn't eventuate for the vast number of people following these types of teachings that appeal to the mass audience. Why? Because they're just not precise enough, structured enough, or done over long enough periods with frequency to really embed themselves into one's life experience and overcome deeply ingrained habits of mind movement away from the present. Hence why successful spiritual aspirants DO meditate frequently, build skill in concentration/attention in a structured way, go on occasional retreats, and have massive amounts of motivation for the path and liberation of LONG periods.. rather than just casually trying to remember to 'be present' for a few minutes here and there randomly done when remembered.

- LJ doesn't seem to have the best grasp of some Eastern teachings (e.g. emptiness in Buddhism, or not-self, or consciousness, etc.), and seems to misunderstand some of these concepts when they do surface at various times in talks, thus not really doing justice to the teaching. This is fair enough, but just something to be aware of, when asking such questions from teachers who are not familiar with the territory of Eastern teachings proper.

- Following on from this, many of the talks contain sweeping statements about 'all the great masters' essentially saying the 'same thing', which equates to being 'present in the moment'. People like 'the Buddha, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Ramana Maharshi' are all mentioned in one sentence as essentially saying the same thing (and this being presented of course in the talk). I have an issue with this-- because all of these teachers were saying vastly different things and offering vastly different approaches at different times. Yes, perhaps the distant end goal was similar, but the approaches are so obviously different, that comparing these teachers in one sweeping sentence is doing them a disservice, and watering down the teachings that each presented in their own way.

- One has to either believe or disbelieve when the LJ's teachings start speculating on ideas like human evolution, spiritual evolution, what Jesus really meant or represented, past lives, and other dimensions, etc. Are these real or just part of LJ's imagination and own 'stuff'? Belief comes in here. These concepts that get presented at various points in the talks and teachings distract and run counter to the goal of just being present with one's reality as it is now. This could be a selling point for some to jump into the teachings and find some helpful transformation, but for others, they will likely become distractions and rabbit holes away from the task at hand. Granted, LJ does hammer home his main point about being present and disidentified with the mind and imagination.

Other notes:

For those who've been around the block with spiritual teachings, especially those related to these themes of being present, awake, aware, etc., the Leonard Jacobson won't appear to be saying anything new or extraordinary. Sure, there's a lot of metaphysical stuff thrown in such as other dimensions, past lives, human evolution etc., but 90% of the pointers and approaches presented have been done by others or well-known contemporaries who have jumped onto the 'be-here now' 'power of now' bandwagon. That said, LJ should be applauded for keeping his overall teaching grounded in easy-to-understand basics to be more present and available in life, and more aware of when we're totally absorbed in our constructed personal story or mind-constructed 'reality'. LJ's message is the most simple to understand and most practical to implement when compared to most other 'present moment awareness' type teachers out there.

For some there's likely to be a certain amount of attraction for this type of simple teaching, grounded in helpful practices or philosophy with some metaphysical content thrown in. LJ does speak to those coming from a Western, Christian-type background who are searching for more than the usual conceptual orthodox teachings they've grown up with and are looking for practical ways to improve their spiritual life, without having to take up a new tradition. For some, there might be some 'father figure' or 'wise old man' transference going on, and that would also be a motivating factor for some. His use of plain English without any spiritual jargon is excellent as well, and his ability to hammer home points repeatedly, while also keeping his talks and sessions interesting is great.

If LJ appeals to you, then I'd say 'go for it'. These teachings present few issues, and they feel very helpful and benign. The good outweighs the bad here.

There's heaps of content available online both free (podcasts, YT) and paid (on the author's website below).

Here are some links below for further information and talks:

https://www.youtube.com/@LeonardJacobsonTeachings

https://www.leonardjacobson.com/

https://leonardjacobsonbooks.com/

https://batgap.com/leonard-jacobson/

This introduction course (online course) is excellent and covers all the essential points in Leonard's teachings:

https://www.leonardjacobson.com/thekeystoawakening

🌍🌌🌊✨🌟

Keywords and links to other teachings:

ACIM, A Course in Miracles, teachings of Jesus, mysticism, present moment awareness, beingness, mindfulness, breath awareness, shadow work, Eckhart Tolle, Barry Long, spirituality, "I am", beingness.

Mindfulness and meditation through using Brightmind and Shinzen Young's approach - Part 1

Mindfulness and meditation through using Brightmind and Shinzen Young's approach

This post will be the start of multiple posts spanning a period of around a year, although I will update the post at various times throughout the journey. It is starting for the second time in December, 2024. Although I did go through the complete Brightmind / Shinzen Young approach in 2022 quite in depth, and was considerably impressed enough to do it all again from scratch. 

To be honest, I have not found any approach with the same level of simplicity, clarity, precision and efficiency.. although that is my own personal experience with the approach to meditation and mindfulness. 

When I use the word 'mindfulness' in this post and with this approach, I'm using it in the modern way, meaning a secular approach the encompasses various sub-skills such as concentration, focus, clarity, equanimity, ethics, psychology and other aspects. This is in contrast with the traditional Buddhist use of the word, which is a small part of the 8 fold path, and developed along with various types of meditation (such as vipassana, zazen, satipatthana practices etc.)

Brightmind (an app designed and maintained by Tony Sola) is an amazing combo of both curriculum (journey meditations leading to levels of understanding) and technology. The advantage of this over many other apps is that Brightmind offers an efficient, effective and easy to follow mindfulness/meditation course complete in all its parts, as well as a way to implement the practice and embed it into daily life. Often technology provides intro type meditations and even complex or deep meditations, but not much in the way of a graded course or complete curriculum coverall all aspects of mindfulness or meditation. On the other hand, there are many courses out there that deliver the content of what mindfulness involves (or meditation), but do not deliver the means to implement and embed those teachings into one's daily life in a permanent and effective fashion. Brightmind does both.

It takes around 30-40 days to complete the first level of training (leading to Graduation level 1), that covers the "why", "how" and "what" of mindfulness (and meditation). Already at this level, one becomes fairly well skilled in directing attention (concentration) throughout the day into internal systems (thought, emotions) or external environments (sense objects).

More posts to come on this topic.

Links:

https://www.brightmind.com/

https://www.shinzen.org/

A list of Osho’s notable talks ordered by their earliest known delivery dates from the 1970s.

 

-- Thanks to AI search for this list of Osho talks with dates.. note that he was known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh well before the name change in the late 1990s.

Here’s the list of Osho’s notable talks ordered by their earliest known delivery dates:

### 1. **My Way: The Way of the White Clouds**  

   - **Dates:** Early 1970s  

   - **Location:** Pune, India  

   - **Theme:** Talks on freedom, individuality, and spiritual evolution.

### 2. **Bhagavad Gita Discourses** (*Geeta Darshan*)  

   - **Dates:** 1970–1971  

   - **Location:** Various  

   - **Theme:** Commentary on the *Bhagavad Gita* from a spiritual and existential perspective.

### 3. **Vigyan Bhairav Tantra** (*The Book of Secrets*)  

   - **Dates:** 1972–1973  

   - **Location:** Pune, India  

   - **Theme:** Commentary on the 112 meditation techniques from the *Vigyan Bhairav Tantra*.

### 4. **Yoga: The Alpha and the Omega**  

   - **Dates:** 1973–1976  

   - **Location:** Pune, India  

   - **Theme:** Comprehensive commentary on Patanjali's *Yoga Sutras*.  

   - **Volume Count:** 10 volumes.

### 5. **The Mustard Seed: Discourse on the Sayings of Jesus**  

   - **Dates:** 1974  

   - **Location:** Pune, India  

   - **Theme:** Exploration of the esoteric dimensions of Jesus's teachings.

### 6. **The Secret of the Golden Flower**  

   - **Date:** October 1975  

   - **Location:** Mount Abu, India  

   - **Theme:** Taoist meditation and spiritual awakening.

### 7. **Zen Series**  

   - **Examples and Dates:**  

      - *And the Flowers Showered* (1974)  

      - *No Water, No Moon* (1974)  

      - *Zen: The Path of Paradox* (1977–1978)  

   - **Theme:** Zen anecdotes and koans explained in Osho’s unique style.

### 8. **The Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra)**  

   - **Dates:** 1978  

   - **Location:** Pune, India  

   - **Theme:** Teachings on the Buddhist *Heart Sutra*, focusing on emptiness and mindfulness.

### 9. **The Dhammapada: The Way of the Buddha**  

   - **Dates:** 1979–1980  

   - **Location:** Pune, India  

   - **Theme:** Interpretations of Buddha’s teachings through verses of the *Dhammapada*.  

   - **Volume Count:** 10 volumes.

---

This chronological order highlights how Osho's teachings evolved over time, addressing diverse spiritual traditions and meditation techniques as he attracted a growing audience.

Note the interesting progression from Indian spiritual texts and spirituality through to Christianity, then to Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.