We cling to our center even while saying "I am nothing"

I'm a fan of Sam Harris' Waking Up app, which I subscribe to on my iPhone. Usually I just listen to Harris' daily guided meditations, a habit I've had for quite a few years.

But occasionally I'll see a talk by someone else that's featured on the app. That's how I started listening to "Life Without a Center" by Adyashanti. (There's lots of free material on that website, along with lots of material you have to pay for.)

I've read one of his books and recall that I liked it. Wikipedia says that his original name was Stephen Gray. He became Adyashanti ("primordial peace") with the approval of his Zen master after he started teaching. In 2023 he stopped teaching "due to PTSD resulting from a very long period of intense physical pain." 

I've still got 20 minutes left to listen to on the 52 minute talk by Adyashanti. Here's some key thoughts from the portion of the talk I heard this morning. His style appeals to me. Adyashanti sounds sincere, humble, and straightforward. 

Control. This had never occurred to me before, but it makes a lot of sense. Control can't last. When we try to control our mind through concentration, a mantra, positive thinking, visualization, or any other means, that may work for a while, but every means of control -- whether mental or physical -- has its limits.

Why? Because control takes effort, an expenditure of energy. Eventually we get tired, worn out, unable to continue the effort of control. Ups and downs in our spiritual practice then occur, just as an attempt to run a marathon, even if it succeeds, necessarily ends with exhaustion. 

Meditation. He says that meditation is always happening. There's no need to try to bring the feeling we have in meditation into everyday life. Our everyday life should be identical to meditation. Sam Harris makes a similar point.

We shouldn't feel like the time we spend on a cushion or chair meditating in a formal way is different from the time we spend washing the dishes, driving to work, or talking with a friend. Awareness of the here and now is always possible. Meditation isn't anything special. It's just another opportunity to be vividly  aware of what's present inside and outside of us. 

Center. I don't recall Adyashanti speaking of ego. Instead he says "center." We cling to being a center, the pivot around which everything in our life revolves. I totally related to his remark that even if we say "I am nothing," this is a way to show both other people and ourself how elevated our spirituality is.

We're so attached to our center, we keep it strong and fortified even (or especially) as we profess our devotion to whatever religion, mystical pursuit, or spiritual path we're following. The only difference is that the manifestations of our center-clinging become more subtle as we learn how to appear like a egoless being even as we become proud of how egoless we supposedly are becoming.

Illusion. He says that illusion is very smart, very clever. I'm assuming that Adyashanti is referring to the illusion of being a distinct separate self possessing free will. At least that's how I see the core illusions from a Buddhist perspective. 

From a scientific perspective, it is frequently said that evolution through natural selection doesn't have a goal of truth, it has a goal of survival of the organism. (Not that evolution really has goals; this is just a manner of speaking about the outcome of natural selection.) 

After I finish listening to the rest of the talk, I'll share Adyashanti's final remarks about living without a center. Regarding clinging to our center, here's an excerpt from a 2005 blog post. (RSSB refers to Radha Soami Satsang Beas, the religious organization I belonged to for 35 years.)

I’ve been to RSSB gatherings where I’ve thanked someone for giving me a cup of coffee and a doughnut. Instead of the volunteer simply saying, “You’re welcome,” I hear: “Oh no, brother. Please don’t thank me. I’m doing everything on behalf of the guru. He is the real doer, not me. I am just an instrument in his hands.”

I think to myself, “Hmmmm. This humble selfless instrument standing before me sure sounds like a self-willed someone, given the lengthy response I got to my pithy ‘thank you.’” Why can’t religious people act as naturally as non-religious people?

Comments

[Ron E.]

My first reaction to the "I am nothing" of this article was a story I recently heard: - Two pious priests were worshiping at a church alter; one suddenly called out "Lord, I am nothing in your presence". The other priest not to be outdone also exclaimed " Lord I too am nothing in your greatness". A cleaner at the back of the church was so taken by what he'd just heard he shouted out "Lord I am nothing." One priest turned to the other and said. "Who does he think he is, claiming to be nothing?"

[Tim Rimmer]

Hi Brian

I too very much enjoy reading about and watching Adyashanti’s take on things. Joan Tollifson has him on her list. A few years back I mentioned one of his Youtube clips ‘Allowing everything to be as it is’- a particularly cool one - always remember the bit where he says ‘Just stop’…. And then further comment about how intimacy with things happens.
One of his other key messages is to just ‘rest as awareness’ - very koan like, which I think is on the money and is another way of saying ‘stay in the present moment’ . So simple and yet …..

[Uncomplicated]

Yeah, it’s kinda a weird the long winded act of humility statement you get from satsangi at times. People are just weird in general.

Whatever you do for a “brother” you are doing for God. But you are also doing it for yourself and your brother and God. So, no need for some lengthy song and dance about your humility. Humans make everything so complicated. 😅

[um]

@ Uncomplicated

In a world where one is what others say one is, "recognition"is important ...so the waiting is for some kind of uniform or attribute by which the people in the public domain can know with what you identify ... where I live ever more and more people of northern Africa dress in the traditional clothing, clothing that was developed for a complete other environment, climate and habitat.

Some people want to be seen as satsangi in order to feel themselves a satsangi .. whatever that might be ... hahaha

Nothing new however .. it reminds me of the behaviour of people in churches etc.

Where I live one can differentiate from a distance on Sundays if a person, especially the ladies are Protestant or RC

[um]

we have freedom of choice, but otherwise we are driven by forces over which we have no control and we only partially know and understand.

Crows are born crows, live like crows and will die as such

and...

that will happen to that Sikh gentleman as well..
Nothing he has and is was created by him.
He HAS a body, mind, character, environment and all the rest, all governed by their own make up that was not in his hands ... he has only the freedom to use these things. ...but and that cannot be stressed enough he can only used them within parameters inmbedded in all these things.

[Uncomplicated]

@um

You live in Northern Africa? How cool. According to 23&me I have North African and Nigerian ancestors (though you can’t tell by looking at me). I have more African DNA than my husband who was born in Africa and has zero African DNA.

Anyway, I hear you… (and I’m quite fond of crows oddly enough).

[um]

@ Uncomplicated

No,...

[Uncomplicated]

@um

Suran. It’s that simple…

[um]

@ Uncomplicated

>> Suran. It’s that simple…<<

WhAT does this mean??

[Uncomplicated]

ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ੁਰ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ

>> Suran. It’s that simple…<<

WhAT does this mean??

Posted by: um | September 29, 2024 at 02:21 PM

[Uncomplicated]

I can’t spell 😂

[Un…]

Saran