JAI BHAKTI™ BLOG: ADVAITA vs DVAITA

Nonduality and duality are two sides of the same coin.

       ~ Bhakti Brophy, 2013

It took me 25 years of study and practice with both nondual and dual teachings to realize this Truth.

At some point in our practices, we discover this Truth, we experience the place where nonduality and duality converge. This seems paradoxical, but then, isn't every great spiritual lesson?

I never quite understood why people put so much credence upon names and labels. The arguments that arise from people fighting over advaita vs dvaita (and these rifts are more apparent today than ever!) are unfortunate, because these teachings are to be used as dharana techniques, if you will. They're a means to an end, they're not the end themselves.

And this Truth is blown wide open once you realize that the nondual IS the dual, and the dual IS the nondual!

Tell me, what is the difference between "Neti! Neti!" (Not this! Not this!) and "Iti! Iti!" (This! This!)?

Study these two terms long enough and you will see the humor in ever seeing separation between the two!




COMING UP NEXT ON JAI BHAKTI™ :

A practical exercise to help you experience the ultimate unity behind Neti! Neti! and Iti! Iti!

Namo Nama,
Bhakti

@BhaktiBrophy
@jaibhakti™




©2014 DL Bhakti Brophy
All Rights Reserved.

Thank you for asking permission before reposting. OM Shánti! : )

SHANKARACHARYA: THE VEDANTA SUTRAS

 "Mâyâ, under the guidance of the Lord*, modifies itself by a progressive evolution into all the individual existences (bheda), distinguished by special names and forms, of which the world consists; from it there spring in due succession the different material elements and the whole bodily apparatus belonging to sentient Beings. In all those apparently, individual forms of existence the one indivisible Brahman is present, but, owing to the particular adjuncts into which Mâyâ has specialised itself, it appears to be broken up—it is broken up, as it were—into a multiplicity, of intellectual or sentient principles, the so-called jîvas (individual or personal souls). What is real in each jîva is only the universal Brahman itself; the whole aggregate of individualising bodily organs and mental functions, which in our ordinary experience separate and distinguish one jîva from another, is the offspring of Mâyâ and as such unreal."

~ SHANKARACHARYA
Rendering of the Vedanta Sutras


* (In this context "Lord" is Brahman.  --Bhakti)



Source: Gutenberg.org

Mystical Union With My Beloved Guru: A Poem

Communion with Gurumayi.
Sweet Communion.

I have been doing a
"Silent Weekend Retreat" at home.
Reflecting on The Self.
Contemplating the fact that I see
God everywhere, in every thing that exists.
(Why me? How did I get to this state?
Many lifetimes of inner work?
I am blessed beyond belief! Amen.)
Feeling the love and joy of the World
Pouring through my veins
While sunbathing in the backyard.

Earlier in the day, a doe pranced up to me--
She stopped about twenty feet away.
We gazed at each other for several precious moments.
I instantaneously recognized the doe
as a manifestation of Gurumayi.
(Gurumayi has an affinity for deer.)

Several hours later,
While lying on my stomach
Basking in the rejuvenating rays of the sun,
An image of myself sitting across
from Gurumayi entered my mind.
I felt her presence sitting across from me--
Her in a light-golden silk robe,
Sitting with her bare feet on the floor.
We were at her ashram
In a vanilla ice cream colored room.
I sat silently,
Absorbing her presence.
I was basking in OUR energy-
Our Love.

I drifted out of the lovely darshan
And began wondering if I could ever
Get a privite sitting with Gurumayi.
I began contemplating writing
to her ashram with this inquiry in mind.
I got only so far as beginning to wonder
What I would write in this letter
When I realized that
I WAS in the presence of my Beloved Gurumayi.
She WAS sitting before me,
Blessing me with her darshan.

We sat across from each other--
Gazing into each other's eyes.
I was absorbing our energy--
While she sat reflecting my purity, my spirit,
my light, and my innate Love.
No need for answers;
There are no more questions to ask.

(Two years ago,
I had already thanked her for
Everything she has already given to me--
Mainly igniting the dorment
Light of God within.)

This current darshan was pure LOVE.
I contemplated bowing down and kissing her feet.
She made it clear that this was not necessary.
Gurumayi sat across from me
And she slowly became transparent--
I, too, dissolved.
Our energies merged.

Gurumayi blessed me with her darshan
In such a graceful way
As to bless me with my own darshan.
We are One.
We have merged.

Our love is beyond words.
Our love is the purest form possible--
Indescribable,
And all intoxicating.
Our love is the reflection
of the light of God within.

Om Namah Shivaya.
Sadgurunath Maharaj ki Jay!

My wish is that everyone, everywhere realize that the light of God (please substitute whatever name you give to the sustaining force of the universe) is right within your own heart. You possess the light of God. You are a manifestation of God. No matter how 'bad' or 'sinful' you think you are, the light within your own heart is ten-million times stronger than any transgression. No matter how much pain and suffering you are undergoing, remember that
there is a calmness underneath that 'storm'. Meditation is the key in finding that peaceful place within.


Life is good.
My love,

Bhakti


For guidance in understanding the mystical experience of 'darshan', here is the Wikipedia definition: Darshan is a Sanskrit and Hindu (also used to some extent in Urdu) term meaning sight (in the sense of an instance of seeing something or somebody), vision, apparition, or a glimpse. It is most commonly used for visions of the divine; that is, of a god or a very holy person or artifact. We could have a "darshan" of the deity in the temple (at the gross level) or have a "darshan" in that inward eye of a light or awareness (at a subtle plane).

Definition of Guru: One who dispels the darkness of ignornance. (On a personal note, I would like to personally add that a 'true' Guru is one who ultimately teaches you that what you are searching for is right inside yourself. I would be weary of any guru who teaches otherwise. My Guru (Gurumayi) has showed me the light within myself. I am forever grateful, as I believe the above poem reflects. )

tags: Jaibhakti, mysticism, Gurumayi, poetry, darshan, Self-realization

God Exists In Everything He is and Does: Check it Out For Yourself!

Take a look at the picture on your left and tell me that God doesn't exist. Look at the beautiful colors: the light bouncing off of the leaves. I took this picture earlier this morning. The tree's beauty caught my eye while I was walking home from the coffee shop so I went home, got my camera, and headed back to the park where it stands.

When I first caught sight of the tree, my heart skipped a beat. I'm not joking. I was totally overtaken and consumed by its beauty. I stopped dead in my tracks and just stood there staring at it. Then, I took a deep breath in and thanked God for giving me the gift of seeing this tree in all of its 'fall' glory.

Then, it occurred to me, "God exists in everything equally just as much as he exists in this tree." I began to think about the fact that every single atom on this Earth throbs with God's energy (or Prana, Holy Spirit, Life-Energy, etc.: whatever you call it). I began to look at things differently and, all of a sudden, everything began to shimmer like the radiance of the tree leaves. Just remembering that everything contains the 'life-force' energy, that same energy that beats our hearts, is refreshing and rejuvenating.

So, I ask you to see for yourself just how amazing this 'life-force' is. Look at anything in your immediate vicinity and just stare at it. Look it over. See what it's made of and what unique characteristics it possesses. Then, look at that object with the awareness that every single atom that makes up this piece of matter is throbbing with the 'life-force' energy. Every single atom. I guarantee that you will see that object in a new light. Think of every atom in your very own body as containing this life-force energy. This type of meditation reminds us that everything in the world is made of the same energy--albeit in different forms. The Hindus make a great analogy for this concept: you can have 100 pieces of different shaped gold jewelry, but in the end, its all just gold.

We are ALL gold. Every single sentient and insentient thing in the Universe is made up of the same energy; I call this energy God. Take a look at the leaves in the photograph below and then tell me that God doesn't exist.



All photos copyright 2005 D.L. Brophy