The art of Self-realization
focusonlight
"I have not come to found a new religion," Maitreya says. "I have come
to teach the art of Self-realization," something which is neither an
ideology nor a religion, but benefits people of all religions and
those who have none. "I come to you 'like a thief in the night'", He
tells us, "so that you will not become too excited. Slowly, as you
become aware, you can 'digest' what is 'eaten'. In awareness you will
know Me. In 'isms' you will fight against Me".
Looking for Maitreya under titles, even the title of 'the Messiah’,
can lead to illusion: 'Messiah’ is a word coined by the human race,
and to say "I am the Messiah," can create opposition." And although
some may find the qualities of Jesus in Him, Maitreya says, "Those who
look for Me as a Teacher are nearer the mark, for that is what I am".*
The true quality of the Teacher will be seen in the teaching — which
is that the Master is within you. In Maitreya’s words, "I seek to
express that which I am through you; for this I come".*
"I have not come to create followers", says Maitreya. "Each of you
should continue to develop within your own religious tradition. A real
disciple is one who will respect the traditions. Respect your own
religions, your own ideologies, in brief, your own thoughtform, and
you will experience the Master. Even when you see me, do not run after
me. If you run after me, you will lose me. I cannot be monopolized — I
belong to everyone."
"If you personify Me, He warns, you will create nothing but confusion,
chaos, destruction. If you parade Me, you do not know who I am. Even
My signs create only momentary happiness. The happiest moment is when
you see Me within your heart."
"I have not come to puzzle or startle people. When people experience
Me, for the first time they will know the purpose of life." You will
not feel you are leading a futile life, but one in which the Master is
within you, guiding you. This sense of inwardness will give you
another perspective in life. You will feel you are enjoying life.
Fulfillment will take place within. Everything is within you. When
this happens you will not react in anger. With a sense of detachment
you will experience the power of God. God is behind everything.
"I do not want you to believe in Me. First experience Me within you.
When you experience Me then you become aware of My presence within
you: it is not a matter of belief first. I do not want you to accept
or reject me — it is your inner experience which counts". What you
experience yourself, says Maitreya, is your wealth, the richness of
your own Being. The living truth is a matter of experience".
Do not try to worship Me, Maitreya counsels. If you worship Me you are
trying to lower yourself. I do not want this. I want you to be equal.
You are a spark of the Supreme Being. Do not think you are below Me.
"The Self alone matters," Maitreya teaches. You are that Self, "an
immortal Being." Suffering is caused by identification with anything
and everything which is not the Self. Ask yourself, "Who am I?" You
will see that you are identified either with matter (the body), or
with thought (the mind) or with power (spirit). But you are none of
these.
"Mind, spirit and body are the temples of the Lord; the Self
experiences in these "the supreme Being and Becoming of the Lord."
Spirit, in the Sanskrit terminology, is Shiv-shakti, which is energy.
Mind is Brahma, which is thought-formation. Body is Prakriti, which is
material substance and can also be thought of as material activity.
These terms can be regarded as objective facts, but they can also be
thought of as movement or processes.
The destiny of the Self is to be free. Considered in its freedom, in
its Being, it is called Atman. Within the limitations of time and
space, in its becoming, it is the soul, or Jiva. The Self is not
energy (Shiv-shakti, spirit); the Self is not thought–formation
(Brahma, or mind); the Self is not material activity (Prakriti, the
body). The destiny of the Self is to enter and leave these temples of
the Lord at will.
Shiva and Brahma can be seen as aspects of a trinity that includes
Vishnu, the sustaining aspect. If a person is overpowered by
Shiv-shakti, he can perform miracles. Yet the person looks withdrawn,
blank. If a person is overpowered by Brahma, he can be a philosopher,
but he can be imprisoned in that thought formation. A person
overpowered by the Vishnu aspect can give, and give generously,
perhaps become a saint, but that, too, can be a prison. During the
1960s, 'hippies' responded to the Vishnu aspect, having become
disillusioned with power (Shiv-shakti) and mind (Brahma). Being is
eternal, Becoming is temporal. The Self experiences both. Being and
becoming are two modalities. Being is unchanging, whereas becoming is
a process of unfolding in time and space. Man, in his Being, is the
Self. In his becoming, he is the soul — the reflection of the Self.
The Self witnesses. It plays the 'mini-role’ of the Almighty. The Self
is the spark of the Almighty. "There are times when you become aware
that someone is behind you, within you, over you, around you —
something is present." "That 'something’", Maitreya says, "is the
Almighty. It does not participate; it observes. No one need struggle
for this step. Everyone qualifies at this stage. Then, as your
awareness grows, if you practice the discipline of detachment, you
will know Me in My totality. The moment you think of Me, I am with
you."
The Self makes itself known through awareness. The Self makes mind,
spirit and body aware of reality and thus able to make decisions
accordingly. Maitreya says, "Let your awareness grow. Awareness, with
intelligence, will guide mind, spirit and body. This will create
harmony between mind, spirit and body and the Self." Then the Self can
use the forces of Life to transform things, to effect 'miracles’.
Mind, spirit and body are simply vehicles.
Awareness is the light of life. Anything done outside awareness leads
to destruction. All thoughts which lead you to selfishness lead you
away from awareness. In awareness there is no memory. Memory is only
in the mind. All struggle and care is in the mind, never in awareness.
Suffering, depression and craving for drugs are all states of mind.
Awareness sets you free and allows you to enjoy life. When awareness
is still dormant, 'isms’ control mind, spirit and body and create
divisions. This is maya — illusion. When awareness controls and guides
you, 'isms’ cannot come close to you. Awareness can even make a king
give up his kingdom, Maitreya teaches. Privileges divide, denying
oneness to the entity within you. 'Isms’ are not thrown away all at
once. They are steps on the way. Awareness controls the pace of
evolution.
Yet in awareness there is no burden. You remain meticulous,
immaculate, pure. There is grace, peace and happiness. These are the
blessings of the Lord.
Awareness will come to be respected in the home and in the school as a
sacred, God-given gift, Maitreya says. Awareness is the mother of
creation. It can never be divided, nor imposed. Textbooks cannot
describe it, because there is no beginning nor end to it. Awareness
can only be experienced. It is a seed in all creation and in every
individual.
Awareness is universal and does not 'belong’ to any religion, nor to
any guru, saint or politician.
According to Maitreya, when you judge, saying 'I am right. You are
wrong’, you are caught in the web of attachment. The Self must always
practise detachment. In this way, awareness will grow. The Self is
neutral and free from suffering. Awareness protects the Self. Just as
the body must be bathed, detachment is the "bath" of mind, and
awareness is the "bath" of spirit.
* These words appear also in Messages from Maitreya the Christ, No.10,
published by Tara Center, Los Angeles, and received through Benjamin
Creme on 8 November 1977.
source:
http://www.share-international.org/archives/M_teachings/Mt_art-self-realiz.htm
companion article:
The practice of Self-realization
http://www.share-international.org/archives/M_teachings/Mt_pract-Self-realiz.htm
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Always down the centuries, at the hour of man's greatest need, and in
response to his voiced demand, a divine Son of God has come forth, and
under many different names...
It is not for us yet to know the date or hour of the reappearance of
the Christ. His coming is dependent upon the appeal (the often
voiceless appeal) of all who stand with massed intent; it is dependent
also upon the better establishment of right human relations & upon
certain work being done at this time by senior Members of the Kingdom
of God, the Church Invisible, the spiritual Hierarchy of our planet;
it is dependent also upon the steadfastness of the Christ's disciples
in the world at this time and His initiate-workers---all working in
the many groups: religious, political & economic. To the above must be
added what Christians like to call "the inscrutable Will of God," that
unrecognized purpose of the Lord of the World, the Ancient of Days (as
He is called in the Old Testament) Who "knows His own Mind, radiates
the highest quality of love & focuses His Will in His Own high Place
within the center where the Will of God is known.
He has been for two thousand years the supreme Head of the Church
Invisible, the Spiritual Hierarchy, composed of disciples of all
faiths. He recognizes and loves those who are not Christian but who
retain their allegiance to Their Founders--the Buddha, Mohammed and
others. He cares not what the faith is if the objective is love of God
and of humanity. If men look for the Christ Who left His disciples
centuries ago, they will fail to recognize the Christ Who is in
process of returning. The Christ has no religious barriers in His
consciousness. It matters not to Him of what faith a man may call
himself...
When the Christ, the Avatar of Love, makes His Reappearance then will
the Sons of men who are now the Sons of God withdraw Their faces from
the shining light & radiate that light upon the sons of men who know
not yet that they are Sons of God. Then shall the Coming One appear,
His footsteps hastened through the valley of the shadow by the One of
awful power Who stands upon the mountain top, breathing out love
eternal, light supernal & peaceful, silent Will.
Then will the sons of men respond. Then will a newer light shine forth
into the dismal, weary vale of earth. Then will new life course
through the veins of men, & then will their vision compass all the
ways of what may be.
So a peace will come again on earth, but a peace unlike aught known
before. Then will the will-to-good flower forth as understanding, &
understanding blossom as goodwill in men.
The Tibetan
First part of collection of quotes here:
http://www.mindlight.info/aab/dkrap.htm
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"The cause of all sorrow and woes is desire -- desire for
that which is material. ... 'No man liveth unto himself",
and no nation either, and ...the goal of all human effort
is loving understanding, prompted by a love for the whole."
Djwhal Khul