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schola · 09-17-2008, 06:31 AM

The Headless Way -- Douglas Harding

Ever heard of Douglas Harding? He developed a method of self inquiry called "The Headless Way." The gist of it is, everyone but you has a head!

Just see for yourself. Can you "see" your own head? Douglas Harding said that when he realized he "had no head" it triggered an immediate and permanent state. His ego was obliterated. He realized that his arms, legs, and torso seem to originate in the formless void just outside his vision, and that he was that void.

Now I have an intellectual understanding of all this, but experiencing it is an entirely different matter. Ramana Maharshi's self inquiry method seems too abstract for me, but Douglas Harding's method is a lot more straight forward.

There are a few really cool exercises on the website. I tried a couple and got a brief flash of insight, like an "aha" moment; although no enlightenment.

Experiments

Anyone familiar with Douglas Harding or read his books?

09-17-2008, 06:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
schola Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 783	You Don't Have a Head The Headless Way -- Douglas Harding Ever heard of Douglas Harding? He developed a method of self inquiry called "The Headless Way." The gist of it is, everyone but you has a head! Just see for yourself. Can you "see" your own head? Douglas Harding said that when he realized he "had no head" it triggered an immediate and permanent state. His ego was obliterated. He realized that his arms, legs, and torso seem to originate in the formless void just outside his vision, and that he was that void. Now I have an intellectual understanding of all this, but experiencing it is an entirely different matter. Ramana Maharshi's self inquiry method seems too abstract for me, but Douglas Harding's method is a lot more straight forward. There are a few really cool exercises on the website. I tried a couple and got a brief flash of insight, like an "aha" moment; although no enlightenment. Experiments Anyone familiar with Douglas Harding or read his books?