SPIRIT

Spiritual Teachers And Teachings

Dr. David R. Hawkins and Devotional Nonduality





Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi


Lester Levenson and Releasing



Opening to the truth of our limitation

Without faith (in God, Spirit, religion, reason, science, intuition, myth ect.) we can only be absolutely sure of one thing in and of ourselves: we are profoundly limited. We are subject to a finite point of view. In our normal state of awareness, we identify with viewpoints, thoughts, and emotions that are, more often than not, subject to error. The chance to observe this single truth presents itself constantly, everyday of our lives.

These errors of perception and internal process define the way that we see the world and ourselves. They become fixed expectations. Our "maps" of the world, the things we do place our faith in, instead of being useful approximations of reality become rigid dogma. Our thoughts, beliefs, emotion and viewpoints, being partial, cannot hope to account for the totality of reality. It seems that for most of us this means we live lives filled with "shoulds;" if the world or ourselves do not meet with our particular "ism" then we become guilty, confused, angry, frustrated, hateful.

We are often closely identified with our limitations. When we are on "autopilot," simply reacting to the world, we operate "as" our limitations, and we will defend them. Sometimes we kill and die to try to prove them or protect them. As our errors of perception and internal process compound themselves, our suffering increases, and we withdraw from the pain, resulting in further limitation. The greater our perception of our limitation, the greater our sense of separation from the Unlimited, ourselves and our fellow man. The result is the polarization and fragmentation we see on display both psychologically, politically and religiously throughout the world.

Some of us, partially realizing these limitations, begin seeking. Often this seeking becomes a process of constant addition, continually attempting to fill "the emptiness". What things can I buy? What latest psychological theory explains my pain? What "new" spiritual teachings will help me feel whole? Endless addition, attempting to fill our emptiness, leads to addiction and allows us to bury (but never very deeply) the one indisputable truth that is available to all of us. We are limited and our unrecognized limitation leads us to error and suffering. There is no need to take anyone's word for it (although many teachers from many traditions have repeatedly pointed us towards it) . Recognition can occur anytime we look at it and are honest with ourselves. We can see it's results in in our personal lives and the world at large. Humility, acceptance, and forgiveness for self and other are the consequences of simply looking and noticing. From that place we can recognize that beyond the limitation of our thoughts, emotions and beliefs is Reality.