Self Realization

That which you are is Unknown

Do you ever make plans? Do you ever make plans and find out they didn’t turn out the way you had planned? Perhaps things didn’t turn out the way you wanted. Months, perhaps years of planning go into a project or an idea or maybe even a career. Maybe you have planned your entire life out. Somehow things don’t click. All the data analysis, all the advisors, all the thought leaders and think tanks…all the research and all the investment. Years of investment. Yet somehow, circumstances turn in a direction no one could have predicted. In your mind it appeared one way, but now it’s different.

This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, of course. You could be walking down the street and out of the blue you see your best friend from 35 years ago. You lost touch with this person, but here they are! You didn’t get that job you wanted, but somehow you end up at another job, and it’s even better than you expected. You search for a home to move into for over a year, and finally you give up and end up getting the next house. After an exhausting day in the heat, when you are just about to drop to the ground, someone hands you a cool drink and it’s the best glass of water you have ever had. And of course, yes, many times people make plans and they do go off smoothly. Nothing wrong with planning.

Of course, if you are honest and look at your experience and what you have experienced, you will agree that it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen. No one knows. Look and see for yourself. Even the great prophets and sages do not know. The astrologers don’t know. Keep in mind, I am not discrediting them. Predictions can be made and they may very well come true. It has definitely happened and many live by such predictions. But at the root of what is really happening, the fundamental truth remains.

This need to know what will happen only comes from identification with the thinking mind. This addiction of needing to know the result of what will happen indeed causes unnecessary suffering. The thinking mind is always somewhere else. It is never HERE. It is never NOW. Therefore, it is already too late. Whenever something good happens spontaneously, it is not thanks to the mind. The mind is already late to the party. It is like the sports commentators at a big game. All it can do is say GOAL! That’s about it. It will, of course, be glad to take credit for whatever has already happened.

For example, no one knows whether the next breath will come. Sure, you can say according to the latest medical research, or other external sources, it is likely that…but in truth, if you look and see with clarity, it is obvious that you do not know that you will have the next breath.

Take a moment to contemplate this deeply by observing the in an out breaths with awareness. Leaving aside all ideas of what might happen in the future as a fool’s errand, stay here right now, with the breath. Just be with the breath and enjoy its soothing, intoxicating movement and pulsation. A large chunk of your fears, worries, doubts and past pain is literally falling away with each breath. The breath is sweeping the floor of the mind. It is clearing the way. There is no failure. There is nothing wrong. Clarity is arising.

In this stillness, you can see how all thoughts and experiences come later. YOU were here first and you still are. You always will be. The mind can only pretend to obscure. But your real nature is the source of everything you experience and think. Sink into that Source and feel a profound rest. There is nothing to find. Anything that can be found is only passing phenomena. It is fodder for the mind. It is a passing experience. The mind wants to know. But you are Unknown.

Having felt and clearly seen this, anything is possible. You can plan or not plan, predict or not predict. It no longer matters. This here now has everything you will ever need. And you can make to-do lists and you can research and you can consult astrologers again. If things work out or they don’t, it no longer matters. Everything is already worked out.

This is peace.

This post is a response to the WordPress daily prompt: Unpredictable

Awakening from the dream of suffering

What is the first thing most people do when they find themselves in a nightmare while dreaming at night? Most people I know would become aware, conscious, and then try to wake themselves up out of the dream and into the waking state. During the dream it feels like that existence is real, but the dreamer becomes aware in the dream and realizes that she must wake up if she is to be free of this intense situation. It becomes extremely urgent during the case of a nightmare.

Everyone has experienced a nightmare at one time or another. Some are worse than others. What makes the nightmare so difficult? It is usually the feeling of intense fear and desperation. Where does that feeling come from? It is the feeling that the situation in the dream has reality. Of course, it does not even though it feels real. Sometimes you become lucid or aware in a dream. When that happens, the intensity of it changes and there is a steadiness, a subtle knowing that this will be over and it is only a dream. This awareness is of the utmost value and power. This awareness is an impartial seeing. It allows you to wake up.

The real nightmare, the real dream is the identification with the mind. In the dream state, your awareness gives rise to all the characters and locations in the dreamworld. In the waking state, it is no different, though it is longer and tends to feel more solid. Check for yourself and see. People routinely experience nightmare and dream-like experiences in the waking state as well. In fact, when these kinds of things happen, many often report that it “was like a dream” or it “was surreal.” Just like the dream state, the main suffering arises from the feeling that what is happening has reality apart from awareness. In a sense, it is not the pain itself that is the problem. There are many people who go through extremely difficult experiences and pain with a laugh. What really is it then? The suffering itself arises largely from a sense of confusion as to what is happening.

Here is an example: Suppose your house is going to be demolished. Due to some financial calamity you know it needs to take place. You have another house ready and your things are moved in. It is sad but there is no other option. On the scheduled day, the demolition company arrives, you sign the papers and stand aside while the team demolishes the house. Then you go to your other, smaller house and eat lunch. How much suffering? Likely little to none. In the second scenario, you wake up in the morning a little groggy and hobble down the stairs to make some coffee. Before you know it, crash! a giant wrecking ball crashes through the living room smashing all the furniture and sends shrapnel everywhere. The house alarm goes off and all the neighborhood dogs start barking. You spill hot water all over your pants. You rush outside and are shocked to find that there is a demolition team destroying your house due to some financial problem. Nobody told you about this. How much suffering in this scenario? Much more. It’s largely due to the surprise and sudden confusion of what’s happening.

Where does confusion about what is happening arise from? It comes from confusion and doubt about your real nature or who you really are. This confusion gives rise to more confusion as you identify with your limited dream body and its exploits as it interacts with the other pretend dream bodies. The way out is similar to what you would do in a dream. Of course, you will probably want to wake up. If you are having a really great dream, you may not want to wake up. Perhaps you’re eating a delicious ice cream or meal (the Matrix, anyone?), or boating on a beautiful river, or you are President of the United States (dream or nightmare, I’m not sure… ;). In this waking state you may be very successful and have a wonderful life. But experiences keep changing, just like in a dream. A turning point comes when you realize that you are suffering. You have an experience of suffering in some form. If not fear, perhaps a lack of some kind. Well, now you feel — “get me out of here!” Ok. What do you do? For example in a dream: inquire, who is having this dream? Of course, “I” am having the dream. Everything in the dream arises in my awareness. There are no other real people in my dream separate from me. Similarly, in the waking state everything arises in your awareness. Remember, you want to wake up!

Now inquire upon waking up in the morning and all day, the very same thing. Who is having this experience? Who am I? Who is having these thoughts and emotions? Don’t think but inquire with an aim to turn awareness back on itself. Sink into the space. Keep bringing all experiences (thoughts, emotions, sensations, perceptions, concepts) back to the feeling “I” again and again. The pure, colorless, imperturbable, impenetrable, clear, free, radiant, eternal awareness, Silence itself will come forward and introduce itself. It was there all along. Slowly, but surely you become aware and awake! The limited feeling “I” dissolves into this limitless awareness that is the Source of the waking, dream and deep sleep states.  This is self inquiry. This is awakening. This is the end of suffering. This is enlightenment. This is Self Realization. This is God. This is the Unknown. This is perfect peace. This is total rest. Now you see life as it is. Now you see Reality. Now you are Reality. Now you can have a nightmare and it wont matter. All doubts are gone. Now you are free.

This post is in response to the wordpress one-word prompt: Nightmare.

New video: Exploration of Sound (Naada Yoga for Total Liberation)

As a supplement to Prasant’s new series of videos on discovering your real nature through music, here is a video of Prasant (saxophone) and his student and friend, Venkat (trumpet). In this video, Prasant and Venkat explore sound together through spontaneous sustained notes. You are encouraged to go through the simple approach to enjoy the sound, dissolve into the sound and finally discover the source of sound, the Silence itself. This is essentially a form of self inquiry using sound as an aid to dissolve the I-thought, the ego, and recognize the already perfect, ever present Being.

As you meet and enjoy the sound, please note that this does not have to do with musical correctness of pitch or tuning or any concept of musical perfection, but with investigating, feeling and riding the sound itself back to your real nature, that is ever free of all concepts and suffering.

Please also note that this is not an intellectual exercise of observing sound or anything like that. This is a visceral experience of the actual feeling of completely dissolving everything that has ever limited you and awakening to your real nature.

For more detail on this approach, here are some of the other videos:
1. Naada Yoga for Total Liberation: An Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBCG-OOQgBE
2. Enjoy the Sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJnekQLsw8

The next few videos will go into more detail on the dissolving step and the recognition of silent awareness or Being. This video is a brief overview. You can use these guidelines while practicing or listening to music. You may find it helpful to do this with Prasant’s other meditation videos here on YouTube. Here is the playlist.

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Visit http://www.prasantmusic.com for his recordings, blog posts etc.http://www.prasantmusic.com/satsang
Download Prasant’s music: http://bit.ly/ZhlFlt
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New Video: Naada Yoga For Total Liberation: Enjoy The Sound

Here is another new video for you, the second video in the series I am doing on YouTube called Naada Yoga for Total Liberation. Please check the blog or my youtube channel to see the other videos. Here is a convenient playlist to watch the series continuously.

Prasant begins this exploration of our experience with a spontaneous brief raga Sriranjani on the saxophone. Then he continues this video series with the first part of exploring your experience through sound: enjoyment. When you first hear the sound of music, or any sound, there is an instant meeting or union with that sound. This meeting allows you to establish yourself in the present moment and begin staying there with the help of music. This is very simple, but if you have many thoughts it is usually difficult. Music and sound help in this situation by giving the mind something to occupy itself, so to speak.

As you stay there and really enjoy the sound, you will melt or dissolve into the sound, which is the next step. This will be covered in the next video. Now the mind is beginning its journey back to its Source. It can happen very quick, so be watchful, be alert, but relax relax relax. This kind of relaxed alertness is easily felt listening to a song you enjoy, as an example.

You can practice the first step or the second if you are comfortable by using Prasant’s other videos for meditation, self inquiry, awakening, enlightenment and Self Realization.

Ok, more to come soon. Be happy.

New video: Saxophone Raga Transmission For Total Peace And Freedom (4K UHD)

This video is part of my new Musical Greeting series. Similar to the previous videos, you can listen and meditate with the video to support your awakening and finally Self Realization. Set aside all doubts and just relax.
—
Prasant shares the Self through music and silence in this video.

Relax relax relax,
Receive receive receive with your Heart,
Just be just be just be.

Wishing you total peace and freedom…
That which you are can never be lost.

You can contact Prasant through his website and access his recordings and mailing list, etc.

www.prasantmusic.com

https://prasantmusic.com/satsang

New Video: Panchabuta is the Self (raga Shuddha Dhanyasi)

Panchabuta (five elements) and all It creates and destroys is the Self (raga Shuddha Dhanyasi). Indian classical saxophone contemplation for awakening…

Dissolve into this transmission of raga Shuddha Dhanyasi. Dive deep into contemplation of the innate, liberated Self nature of all that Is and emerge totally free. When you return from this seeing you will not be the same and yet you will be, as always. You are free from all limitation and concepts.

This raga has five notes representing each element. Its simplicity is also its power. All the notes come from the first note (Sa) and return to it. All elements of the panchabuta arise from the Self (You), dance as the Self (You) and dissolve in the Self (also You). This happens in every instant. Just notice. If you don’t seem to feel That in this moment, then notice that feeling. That feeling of division. Melt into the sound and imagery (if your eyes are open). Watch that feeling arise. It feels like a subtle disturbance or restriction. It distorts your real nature, creating a sense of separation, however subtle or dense. When this is seen then nothing more is needed but to just be. Since even the false sense of separation, the cause of ignorance, arises from Being, it will automatically return to its Home in Being.

Return again and again to Being and you are free.
—-

Some of the subjects and locations in the video include:
Arunachala in Thiruvannamalai, India
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
Alameda Trail, California and other locations in Fremont, CA
Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Hayward, CA
Reed Cave, Guilin, China
Santa Cruz Beach, Santa Cruz, CA
Jacksonville Pier, Jacksonville, FL
The photo of Prasant was taken by Eric Vogler.

If you found this video useful, please like and subscribe for regular updates.

You can stream/download the audio freely here as well as support Prasant’s work by entering a number above 0 when you download.

You can contact Prasant here.

http://www.prasantmusic.com

Satsang

New Video: Being Resolves Longing (raga Shubapantuvarali)

Enjoy this transmission of Shubapantuvarali raga on saxophone for peace, happiness and deep release of suffering.

What is the reason the appearance of suffering continues even for someone who has all basic needs? There is some movement within…something that says “something else is needed. This is not enough. I must look elsewhere to get something more. What is happening now should not be happening. I must regain what I lost.” A deep longing. This can be painful. But actually this longing is not what it might seem, not for a possession or companion or a fantastic experience, but really a longing to remember your real nature.

Simply look! Feel the source of the sound that is now arising in you. At that moment True Being emerges again with total clarity. This beingness dissolves all longing, confusion, past pain and suffering with no effort. It may be gradual, it may be instant. No longer is there is anything else to find, because you have already found. Finally, all is eternally well. Only Being just as you are can resolve the longing.

Now you are free.

—-

You can download this track and other similar tracks free here.

I’m also happy to note that you can view this video in 4K UHD resolution.

New video: Happy for no reason: Ananda is being. (raga Gambheera Nattai)

Here is a new video for you.

…Another spontaneous video celebrating the spontaneous happiness and bliss of the unlimited Self. This one is in the South Indian Carnatic raga Gambheera nattai.

As with the last video, you can use this for casual listening or along with your self inquiry meditation or other yoga for enlightenment and Self realization. Play it while you study, sleep, exercise, do hatha yoga, make your coffee or tea, for your kids, in the car…anywhere. It is for you.

Completely feel the sound within you as your self. Every atom of your being is filled with this sound, the music. Merge with it and feel the total freedom of being. No separation between music and you. Yes, there is perhaps actually bliss… there is enjoyment naturally. It is arising by itself. This is union. Seeing this, you forget even this, and just be… You simply ARE.

The video was taken at Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple in San Jose, CA.

Here is the audio track. You can stream it or download for free (donations welcome).


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