I just finished listening to your batgap interview.
What particularly stayed with me is something you said at the end where you said you’re only really interested in chatting to people that aren’t going down this path to avoid suffering, and it hit me a bit because that was definitely my motivation to go down the path originally and has certainly stayed with me up to this point whether or not I would like to admit it. Its only in the last few weeks that I’ve been curious about embracing the suffering, not because the goal is to free myself of it, but just to absorb it and not deny it.
I’m curious about Dzogchen, I’m wondering if you’d be able to let me know the name of the book that first got you into it?
Hi Jacques from Sydney I experienced awakening 12 years ago after receiving « The Power of Now « at age 60 ,in June will turn 70 so my fear of physical death is becoming more real
My name is Jai and i am from India. I am not sure how it is in other countries, but we Indians, Hindus to be more specific, are introduced to spirituality from a very young age. I was 9 when my dad (who has been a passionate homeopath for the past 32 years) started exploring spirituality seriously and that had an effect on my upbringing. Magic was what caught my attention as a kid when my father narrated stories from autobiography of a yogi. After magic it was the intensity associated with the spiritual field that I was enamoured with. It was during this phase, around 9 years ago, that i started reading about various saints, their stories, thoughts and the practices they advocated. If there has been any constant in my life since 9 years it has been the interest that i have had in this department, barring a few periods during which i became fearful of spirituality. Though i have read several books the ones that resonated most with me were man's eternal quest and the divine romance by Yogananda, the voice of babaji, a trilogy on kriya yoga by VTN Neelakantan, Freedom from the known by J krishnamurti, Apprenticed to a Himalayan master by Sri M, Books on and by Ramana Maharshi, Miracle of love by Ram Dass but most of all I am That by Nisargadatta Maharaj. Around 19 months ago, because of some strange event repeating itself I got terrified of the spiritual field. But that changed 7-8 months later when i stumbled upon Jed Mckenna's trilogy, especially the first one. Since then my interest in the subject has been waxing and waning but what i can say is that i do contemplate quite a lot about these matters. I am not a regular practitioner of meditation or yoga or any other practice for that matter. The only practice i have followed religiously is reading more and more on this subject and I sometimes wonder if this has any spiritual benefit, apart from being a passion of mine. The problem with reading more and more , however, has been the contradictions that come up between one teaching/teacher and the other.
I was trying to find a connection between Robert Wolfe and Jed Mckenna when i came across an article that mentioned you. My desire of knowing who Jed Mckenna was, was finally put to rest when i saw your podcast regarding his passing away. I feel lucky to be in touch with you via this platform and cannot believe how prompt you are in responding to questions and comments on this website and on youtube. Thank you for making yourself not just available but easily accessible as well.
I could go on and on forever but this is not the place to do that. Your e-mail account, however, is a different matter!!! Sorry in advance for the number of mails you will receive from me because corresponding with you is one opportunity that i value more than most things...
Thanks so much for sharing Sandra Anne. Just visited your website so nice job! Also, I resonate with your willingness to share just for the fun of it. We need no more reason to do anything than the mere enjoyment of it. But I suppose the powerful quotes you provided point to the same thing. I especially enjoyed the point that "its not even wrong to think something is wrong."
Wrong cant even be wrong. LOL Your inherent freedom is a reflection of your unobstructed nature. It is within your infinite and unobstructed nature that these appearances of right and wrong appear and disappear back into. Enjoy the show!!
Hi, I'm called Sandra Anne. I was also a friend of Jed McKenna and his student until his recent passing. My website is Theendoftwo.com you can read more about this character I play there. I have also written a book that you can find out about on my website. I used Jed McKenna's spiritual autolysis method to unravel all the lies that I used to believe and that ruled this life causing untold sorrows. I'm a coach now for those who are ready to take it to the next level, the level of intensity that is all consuming, which is the only level capable of propelling you out of your own mind created madness and into a world/dream that actually works in ways that will amaze you time and time again. Life is a miracle and if you aren't seeing that then you have work to do, just maybe get with it because that is the only purpose to your life, everything and I do mean everything else is literally immaterial. Once you are out of it you don't ask "What can life do for me?", no, now you ask, "What can I do for life?" and then you listen because it will actually tell you and it will be better than anything this "self" that you thought you were could ever have come up with, just it all unfolds for you and you never actually do another thing ever again just you are somehow still "in the world" but you are never "of the world" ever again. Once you "get it" you are free, you have served your purpose, and the only other ultimate thing to do after that is to share it not because it's a nice thing to do but because it is what you are. I look forward to seeing what arises, because whatever that is, is already it.
Consider these quotes,
"Whatever happens must be the best thing that could happen because it is the thing that does happen. Ultimately, the only criteria we have by which to determine what is best is what occurs." Jed McKenna
"The truth though, is that nothing is really wrong. Nothing is ever wrong. It's not even wrong to believe that something is wrong. Wrong is simply not possible." Jed McKenna
"The universe is funny about how it puts us exactly where we need to be to pick up the next piece of the puzzle." Jed McKenna
"You observe events and you allow the flow of things to do the steering and you go where you go." Jed McKenna
"All I ask is the little faith needed for making the first step. With experience will come confidence and you will not need me anymore. I know what you are and I am telling you.
Trust me for a while." Nisargadatta
Just reading these quotes over and over again can start you on your way. You can't even read something you are not supposed to read. Nothing I tell you, nothing is accidental, just if you made it to this site what I'm telling you is that is your clue...Further...don't stop until you make it home.
Thank you Mario and welcome. Even without reading my books, you already share the same spirit from which I speak so I think well find a lot to discuss. Im actually sick with the covid right now but I will go ahead and look at your question that you have in the "what is reality" topic. Thanks again, marc
If I may add, your amazon page is messy and misleading with regard to the order of the books, which are showed as 2, 4 and 5 (instead of 1,2,3) and in the wrong order. I hope it helps.
Hello from Italy. I'm just one of many, trying to get rid of my life, to be as much honest as possible with myself, to understand what's the whole point of it all. I'm a truth seeker since 20 years now and tried several things (yoga, meditation, kundalini, whatever) but could never get a grasp on the whole spiritual world (bells, candles, soft music... only good to get asleep). I loved Jed enlightnement trilogy and now I stambled on your books which I just ordered. Too many "justs" in this paragraph. I would love to find open and honest discussions on this forum. Mario
Hi Susan, I appreciate you visiting even while the while site is still being built. It sounds like it will be finished by the end of the month and then I will start to let others know that this site exists. It sounds like we have very much in common as Castaneda was my opening act and Dzogchen was the closer. A lot of similarities are coming to me now that I never thought of until you used those two teachings in the same sentence. I am loving my fifties better than any decade so far and I also LOVE the scary. I have always sought out the scary since I was very young. I still do. Thats actually a very interesting topic that wouldnt have even occured to me without this conversation. Thats why I love this. Thanks again, marc
Hello from Scotland, its good to be here and glad to find this site. I’ve benefitted very much from reading and listening to you Marc, your reassuring and soothing presence over the last few years is appreciated amid this constant moving onto new unfamiliar territory. I started my adventure early as a teen on Castaneda books, been exploring avidly every since and ended up with something like Dzogchen. At 56 now it’s all much slower, more fun and happier though still scary and just as much of an adventure.
Hi Marc, my name is Will, from Sydney.
I just finished listening to your batgap interview.
What particularly stayed with me is something you said at the end where you said you’re only really interested in chatting to people that aren’t going down this path to avoid suffering, and it hit me a bit because that was definitely my motivation to go down the path originally and has certainly stayed with me up to this point whether or not I would like to admit it. Its only in the last few weeks that I’ve been curious about embracing the suffering, not because the goal is to free myself of it, but just to absorb it and not deny it.
I’m curious about Dzogchen, I’m wondering if you’d be able to let me know the name of the book that first got you into it?
Kind regards,
Will
Hi Jacques from Sydney I experienced awakening 12 years ago after receiving « The Power of Now « at age 60 ,in June will turn 70 so my fear of physical death is becoming more real
Hello Marc,
My name is Jai and i am from India. I am not sure how it is in other countries, but we Indians, Hindus to be more specific, are introduced to spirituality from a very young age. I was 9 when my dad (who has been a passionate homeopath for the past 32 years) started exploring spirituality seriously and that had an effect on my upbringing. Magic was what caught my attention as a kid when my father narrated stories from autobiography of a yogi. After magic it was the intensity associated with the spiritual field that I was enamoured with. It was during this phase, around 9 years ago, that i started reading about various saints, their stories, thoughts and the practices they advocated. If there has been any constant in my life since 9 years it has been the interest that i have had in this department, barring a few periods during which i became fearful of spirituality. Though i have read several books the ones that resonated most with me were man's eternal quest and the divine romance by Yogananda, the voice of babaji, a trilogy on kriya yoga by VTN Neelakantan, Freedom from the known by J krishnamurti, Apprenticed to a Himalayan master by Sri M, Books on and by Ramana Maharshi, Miracle of love by Ram Dass but most of all I am That by Nisargadatta Maharaj. Around 19 months ago, because of some strange event repeating itself I got terrified of the spiritual field. But that changed 7-8 months later when i stumbled upon Jed Mckenna's trilogy, especially the first one. Since then my interest in the subject has been waxing and waning but what i can say is that i do contemplate quite a lot about these matters. I am not a regular practitioner of meditation or yoga or any other practice for that matter. The only practice i have followed religiously is reading more and more on this subject and I sometimes wonder if this has any spiritual benefit, apart from being a passion of mine. The problem with reading more and more , however, has been the contradictions that come up between one teaching/teacher and the other.
I was trying to find a connection between Robert Wolfe and Jed Mckenna when i came across an article that mentioned you. My desire of knowing who Jed Mckenna was, was finally put to rest when i saw your podcast regarding his passing away. I feel lucky to be in touch with you via this platform and cannot believe how prompt you are in responding to questions and comments on this website and on youtube. Thank you for making yourself not just available but easily accessible as well.
I could go on and on forever but this is not the place to do that. Your e-mail account, however, is a different matter!!! Sorry in advance for the number of mails you will receive from me because corresponding with you is one opportunity that i value more than most things...
Thanks so much for sharing Sandra Anne. Just visited your website so nice job! Also, I resonate with your willingness to share just for the fun of it. We need no more reason to do anything than the mere enjoyment of it. But I suppose the powerful quotes you provided point to the same thing. I especially enjoyed the point that "its not even wrong to think something is wrong."
Wrong cant even be wrong. LOL Your inherent freedom is a reflection of your unobstructed nature. It is within your infinite and unobstructed nature that these appearances of right and wrong appear and disappear back into. Enjoy the show!!
Hi, I'm called Sandra Anne. I was also a friend of Jed McKenna and his student until his recent passing. My website is Theendoftwo.com you can read more about this character I play there. I have also written a book that you can find out about on my website. I used Jed McKenna's spiritual autolysis method to unravel all the lies that I used to believe and that ruled this life causing untold sorrows. I'm a coach now for those who are ready to take it to the next level, the level of intensity that is all consuming, which is the only level capable of propelling you out of your own mind created madness and into a world/dream that actually works in ways that will amaze you time and time again. Life is a miracle and if you aren't seeing that then you have work to do, just maybe get with it because that is the only purpose to your life, everything and I do mean everything else is literally immaterial. Once you are out of it you don't ask "What can life do for me?", no, now you ask, "What can I do for life?" and then you listen because it will actually tell you and it will be better than anything this "self" that you thought you were could ever have come up with, just it all unfolds for you and you never actually do another thing ever again just you are somehow still "in the world" but you are never "of the world" ever again. Once you "get it" you are free, you have served your purpose, and the only other ultimate thing to do after that is to share it not because it's a nice thing to do but because it is what you are. I look forward to seeing what arises, because whatever that is, is already it.
Consider these quotes,
"Whatever happens must be the best thing that could happen because it is the thing that does happen. Ultimately, the only criteria we have by which to determine what is best is what occurs." Jed McKenna
"The truth though, is that nothing is really wrong. Nothing is ever wrong. It's not even wrong to believe that something is wrong. Wrong is simply not possible." Jed McKenna
"The universe is funny about how it puts us exactly where we need to be to pick up the next piece of the puzzle." Jed McKenna
"You observe events and you allow the flow of things to do the steering and you go where you go." Jed McKenna
"All I ask is the little faith needed for making the first step. With experience will come confidence and you will not need me anymore. I know what you are and I am telling you.
Trust me for a while." Nisargadatta
Just reading these quotes over and over again can start you on your way. You can't even read something you are not supposed to read. Nothing I tell you, nothing is accidental, just if you made it to this site what I'm telling you is that is your clue...Further...don't stop until you make it home.
Much Love,
Sandra Anne
Thank you Mario and welcome. Even without reading my books, you already share the same spirit from which I speak so I think well find a lot to discuss. Im actually sick with the covid right now but I will go ahead and look at your question that you have in the "what is reality" topic. Thanks again, marc
If I may add, your amazon page is messy and misleading with regard to the order of the books, which are showed as 2, 4 and 5 (instead of 1,2,3) and in the wrong order. I hope it helps.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0933BB94L?ref_=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_tkin&binding=kindle_edition
Hello from Italy. I'm just one of many, trying to get rid of my life, to be as much honest as possible with myself, to understand what's the whole point of it all. I'm a truth seeker since 20 years now and tried several things (yoga, meditation, kundalini, whatever) but could never get a grasp on the whole spiritual world (bells, candles, soft music... only good to get asleep). I loved Jed enlightnement trilogy and now I stambled on your books which I just ordered. Too many "justs" in this paragraph. I would love to find open and honest discussions on this forum. Mario
Hi Susan, I appreciate you visiting even while the while site is still being built. It sounds like it will be finished by the end of the month and then I will start to let others know that this site exists. It sounds like we have very much in common as Castaneda was my opening act and Dzogchen was the closer. A lot of similarities are coming to me now that I never thought of until you used those two teachings in the same sentence. I am loving my fifties better than any decade so far and I also LOVE the scary. I have always sought out the scary since I was very young. I still do. Thats actually a very interesting topic that wouldnt have even occured to me without this conversation. Thats why I love this. Thanks again, marc
Hello from Scotland, its good to be here and glad to find this site. I’ve benefitted very much from reading and listening to you Marc, your reassuring and soothing presence over the last few years is appreciated amid this constant moving onto new unfamiliar territory. I started my adventure early as a teen on Castaneda books, been exploring avidly every since and ended up with something like Dzogchen. At 56 now it’s all much slower, more fun and happier though still scary and just as much of an adventure.