This news letter and more; available at the website
http://www.awakeningtothedream.com/ Question: Is there anything that can happen that encourages the illusion (of separate self ) to DISSOLVE?
Does anything facilitate the cracking of the egoic shell so to speak?
If there is a strong desire for this freedom, yet no one to do anything about this, where does this leave (apparent) me?
Answer: Can we erase our reflection from the mirror? Can we dissolve a mirage? Of course not, and trying to do so is futile. Does this mean it is hopeless? Yes! Within the confines of the belief that these tasks have to be accomplished, it is certainly hopeless. If there is anything that can be ?done? it is to see that nothing has to be done at all. We do not have to erase the reflection and there is no need dissolve the mirage of the ego. Seeing it for what it is, is enough. Instead of cracking the egoic shell, see through it and the effort to get rid of one?s shadow will subside naturally.
Really, the sense of self is not a problem as it is part of the natural functioning of the organism. The ?ego illusion? on the other hand may appear to be problematic. This illusion is only the belief that the ?mirage of a separate individual? is what you exclusively are. However, the actuality that there is awareness of the ego can point you to the realization that this exclusive identification is an illusion. Perhaps it will be seen that the ego has no awareness, but that ?something? which is not limited to the ego ?sees? the ego; this is the same ?something? that knows the coming and going of thoughts, without being itself a thought.
This ?something? is not an experience, but manifests as the experiencing. It expresses as the desire for freedom, yet it is freedom itself. To the mind it is nothing at all as it has no qualities or attributes to describe it. Truly, no one ever ?got? it, and no one ever will.
To those who try to get rid of ?the reflection in the mirror?, it may seem that those who no longer try, have somehow succeeded. But all that has apparently happened is that the reflection has been recognized for what it is; nothing has changed, but the futility of trying to erase it has been recognized. This ?recognition? may then express itself as ?ease of being.? This ?ease? can seem a desirable state that could be achieved through trying harder, but all it really is, is the absence of trying.
Beyond the efforts to get rid of the ego, you effortlessly are the Aware Space in which everything appears; including the ego. To say it another way; You are THAT what appears AS everything, including the sense of locality in space and time, AKA the ego. What ?you? are beyond this ego is not an experience to be had by someone, but the inexperience-able experiencing itself; the unknowable knowing and the invisible sight.
Turning around to catch a glimpse of yourself, will only result in dizziness and a loss of balance. Just when it all seems hopeless, you may suddenly stop and laugh. Instantly it is seen that there is no need to try to see the seer. There is only the ?seeing/being? and no separate character to do or become it.
There is only Presence appearing AS everything, including a possible sense of separation. All there is is THIS. ?You? ARE that what manifests as the seeker and as that what is sought. This is the Mystery of Presence which allows everything to be exactly as it is. Now, is it possible to relax and to see that you, Oneness, have always been home, playing hide and seek with and within yourself?

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You will never find an answer outside of yourself because there is truly nothing that is outside. You, yourself, are what you are seeking. It is only the concepts or beliefs which seem to get in the way. You may have to hear it 10,000 times before you really listen:
Stop.
Don't pick up that thought. Look in your direct experience. Is there anyone really here?
Aside from apparent physical perceptions (sights, sounds, smells, etc.), and some thoughts or emotions appearing transiently through this space of seeing and knowing, is there anything substantial which has an independent existence of its own?
Or is the "I" just an assumption? A habitual reference point from which all evaluations and judgements spring? Don't wait for someone else to help you find the answer. The answer is only in you. YOU ARE THE ANSWER.
The simple beingness at your core is the answer which unravels all questions. It is the habitual evaluation of experience against a conceptual reference point of "you" and your story which creates all seeming problems and the need to strive to solve or prevent them.
It is the fear that arises during contemplation of dropping this story which seems to make most of us run away from it, hesitate on the brink, or fail to see it altogether. This fear arises from the same false reference point.
You cannot own this understanding or know it as a concept. It is pure knowing with no subject and no object. The mind balks at this. "The mind" is only a seeming series of thoughts arising and falling away in THIS AWARENESS THAT IS SEEING THIS NOW.

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One Day
On a day that may have come and gone
Or never was or never can be
A bird may be singing,
A raindrop slides down a window
A plate breaks
A cat brushes your leg
You pick up your keys
Or turn on a light

And...

You will forget to remember to be you
And in that moment, everything will change
Even as nothing changes
You will be you no longer
But ever more so

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There is neither creation nor destruction,
neither destiny nor free will,
neither path nor achievement;
this is the final truth.

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~ Ramana Maharshi ~


The universal appeal of Jesus
There are 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone "brother."
2. He liked Gospel.
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.

But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father's business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure he was God.

But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with his hands.
2. He had wine with every meal.
3. He used olive oil.

But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut his hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.

But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all?..
proofs that Jesus was a woman:
1. (S)He fed a crowd at a moment's notice, even when there was no food.
2. (S)He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3 And even when (S)He was dead, (S)He had to get up because there was work to do.

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Art by: Vincent Barzoni. Title: 'Black Jesus Montage'
Found at: http://www.art.com/
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