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Hope You Die Soon: Words on Non-Duality & Liberation
In liberation it is seen that all phenomena simply arise in awareness with no person mediating them. Purpose, religion and paths of spiritual development all lose their meaning when it is seen that there is no one who exercises choice.
"The most common misconception about liberation is that it is something an individual can gain. But liberation is a loss - the loss of the sense that there ever was a separate individual who could choose to do something to bring about liberation. When it is seen that there is no separation, the sense of vulnerability and fear that attaches to the individual falls away ...... then life is simply lived and relaxation takes place. There is a sense of ease with whatever is the case and an end to grasping for what might be."
From I Hope You Die Soon
Richard Sylvester is a humanistic psychologist, therapist and lecturer. For thirty years he engaged with a variety of “spiritual practices” while also training in psychotherapeutic techniques and teaching counselling. In 2002 Richard met Tony Parsons and, as he writes in ‘I Hope You Die Soon’, “that was the end of what I thought had been my life”. There then occurred two events which he describes in his book as ‘awakening’ and ‘liberation’. Richard lives in a country town in South East England. He holds meetings about non-duality in London and other locations.
For more information visit
www.richardsylvester.com
Excerpts
Contents Introduction On Liberation Preliminaries Awakening—Seeing there is No One Liberation—Seeing ‘I’ am Everything Being Awake and Being Asleep I Hope You Die Soon
The Stuff that Happens Language The Mind Spiritual Experiences Being a Person The Great Mantra The Impeccable Behaviour of the Enlightened Ones Contraction and Localisation Death and Religion A Life Left in Ruins Natural and Neurotic Feelings Therapy and Meditation Paradise is Now
The Avatar of the Single Malt An Interview A Talk
Introduction
The most common misconception about liberation is that it is something an individual can gain. But liberation is a loss—the loss of the sense that there ever was a separate individual who could choose to do something to bring about liberation. When it is seen that there is no separation, the sense of vulnerability and fear that attaches to the individual falls away and what is left is the wonder of life just happening. Instead of meaning there is a squirrel motionless on a grey tree trunk, legs splayed, head up, looking straight at you. Instead of purpose there is the astonishing texture of cat’s fur or the incredible way an ant crawls over a twig. The loss of hope is no loss when it is replaced by the moorhens bobbing on the lake. When the sensation that I am in control of my life and must make it happen ends, then life is simply lived and relaxation takes place. There is a sense of ease with whatever is the case and an end to grasping for what might be.
Being Awake and Being Asleep are the Same—unless You are Asleep
When liberation is seen, it is known that being awake in liberation is no different from being asleep. They are both seen simply as oneness, manifesting as sleep or awakeness. In liberation all the mystification of enlightenment is stripped away and its absolute ordinariness is revealed. Mountains are seen simply as mountains. But to the seeker who is still asleep, and in their sleep is searching restlessly for an end to the sense of separation, there appears to be a chasm between that state and liberation. Liberation seems like a marvellous prize to be attained, promising blissful feelings, freedom from pain and suffering, an end to all problems, perhaps magical powers and of course the jealous admiration of your friends. This is why the search for liberation can be so desperate and the question “Will I get it?” so powerful. All that prevents the seeing of liberation is the thought “I am not liberated”. So some say that what you must do to see liberation is to drop this thought. But there is no one who can choose to do this. The thought that this is not liberation, which is the same as the thought “I am separate” or “I am searching”, continues until it drops away. The apparent self can do nothing to discover that it is itself an illusion—an appearance cannot discover reality. Liberation is seen either while the body-mind is still functioning or at the death of the body-mind and it does not matter which, except in the story. “At death there is only liberation. It is just more chic to see liberation when you are alive.” In liberation it is seen that there never was anything to seek. What you seek has always been with you, what you are has always been what you are. When this is seen all searching ends.
US $12.00 UK £8.00
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