Different approaches to seeking answers

[Mark Lapierre]

A recent discussion prompted some thoughts about the belief that all that exists is one universal Consciousness, and the often suggested inward search for answers.

If this is true, and we individuals are all part of this Consciousness, then wouldn't asking others be the same as looking inward? That is, if another individual, who is really part of Consciousness, wants to know something, the answer would come from Consciousness. Whether it takes the internal path, coming from within the individual, or from the external path, from another individual, what effect does this have on the answer?

One effect would be filtering applied by ego. And differing levels of consciousness would apply differing filters, with lower consciousness distorting the core message more than a higher level of consciousness might. However, assuming two individuals with similar levels of consciousness, the message would be similarly distorted, with one distortion being comparable to the other in terms of how the receiver perceives the message. In other words, the answer is garbled whether it comes from inside or outside, so does the apparent source really matter, since the ultimate source is the same?

If, on the other hand, we're not all part of a universal Consciousness but are truly distinct individuals with individual, disconnected consciousnesses, then looking to others for answers truly does provide more potential for different answers than looking internally. Others will have had different experiences, and gained different knowledge, so their answers may be different to anything we know.

However there is a danger with this perspective, the danger of believing that someone else is better, and therefore their answers are better that your own. It's the danger of not thinking for yourself.

There's also a danger with the Universal Consciousness perspective, the danger of thinking that your own ego-distorted answers are all that you need since they come from the same source as everyone else's. At low levels of consciousness, the answers you tell yourself may not help you grow, and could be detrimental, and cause you to ignore the helpful advice of others.

Since I believe in the disconnected consciousness perspective I'd like to hear what all of you have to say

Ultimately, for either perspective (and probably for any other that I haven't considered), a balanced approach of listening to others and then thinking for yourself, is the most beneficial approach. But most of us know that already, so I don't want this to be a discussion about what the best approach is, but rather why.

[torilink]

My thoughts are that the MIND is the creative force of our being, this is our "Soul" as some may call it. The Mind/soul is part of the Eternal Mind or "God" Creator. It resides within the Eternal Mind, as the created doesn't leave its source.

The Ego is the individual consciousness that we believe is the "I" of our physical reality.

It depends on what level you are communicating. The ego uses the body often to distort communication. Judgement being the main method used.

If you have two who are relating through the MIND, through extension of thought, then I do believe answers can be found and we can assist one another. It is what I like to refer to as communion.

As you said, however, the ego mind really isn't a part of the conversation - if it is and there are judgemental thoughts - it ceases to be communion and extension.

[ethereal]

Nisargadatta Maharaj said that only the Self (unified consciousness) exists, and that the reason why people aren't getting answers from inside is that they believe all the answers are outside, which is why they came to him for answers

The human dilemma is that the mind inherently cannot tell truth from falsehood, which is why there has been so much suffering and misinformation over the centuries. But with kinesiology/muscle testing, there is now an objectifiably verifiable technique to ascertain Truth, which can be depended upon 100%.

No matter whether I get my answers internally or externally, I still double check with calibrations/kinesiology to make sure. Like you said Mark, internal and external messages are filtered by the ego according to its LOC, but calibrations and kinesiology finesses answers directly from Universal Consciousness itself without passing through an intermediary.

I've recently learned self-testing and was totally amazed at its accuracy. Highly recommend anyone else to try it out.

So I guess my answer is, both approaches + kinesiology? Lol

[Craig1129]

Originally Posted by ethereal

Nisargadatta Maharaj said that only the Self (unified consciousness) exists, and that the reason why people aren't getting answers from inside is that they believe all the answers are outside, which is why they came to him for answers

The human dilemma is that the mind inherently cannot tell truth from falsehood, which is why there has been so much suffering and misinformation over the centuries. But with kinesiology/muscle testing, there is now an objectifiably verifiable technique to ascertain Truth, which can be depended upon 100%.

No matter whether I get my answers internally or externally, I still double check with calibrations/kinesiology to make sure. Like you said Mark, internal and external messages are filtered by the ego according to its LOC, but calibrations and kinesiology finesses answers directly from Universal Consciousness itself without passing through an intermediary.

I've recently learned self-testing and was totally amazed at its accuracy. Highly recommend anyone else to try it out.

So I guess my answer is, both approaches + kinesiology? Lol

Can you explain more about the kinesiology self testing? Whenever I try to look inward, it seems I only get feedback from my ego mind.

[ethereal]

Applied Kinesiology and its applications are discussed extensively by Dr. David Hawkins in his book, "Power vs. Force."

Here are some more links that talk about it:
kinesiology resources/links
LearnK-testing : LearnK-testing

Anyway, if you look inward and get feedback that resonates with fear/negativity, then it's the ego -- but if you still the mind, and get feedback that resonates with peace/love/wisdom/humor (i.e. if it sounds smarter than you normally are ), then you know it's the real deal.

[AndyMartin]

Originally Posted by Craig1129

Whenever I try to look inward, it seems I only get feedback from my ego mind.

The problem we suffer from is we don't know know how to discriminate between ego and the absolute self. You can look in your heart, but what good is it if you can't tell your egoic heart from your authentic heart? Looking inward does not solve that problem any more than looking outward.

So the problem isn't where we are looking, it's where we are looking from. Absolute consciousness is an egoless place of knowing before thought, before feeling, and before any other physical expression. Not of knowing something -- just knowing. But the moment any realization is given thought or word, it has passed through the ego filter. It doesn't matter whether it's from within or without; it is equally just a story about what was experienced in absolute consciousness. That story is not truth; as consciousness develops it demands that we leave the old stories behind, and their metaphors, methods and practices in order to create space for larger stories to arise: exactly the opposite of what ego wants. Ego wants the stories to be right and to be true and absolute.

So does one consciousness then mean "one" mean "one in number" or "one in type?" From a storyless perspective, there's no way to distinguish. And the greater the experience of oneness, the less distinction exists between the two. Which to the mind and and to the ego is utterly baffling. But neither affects the significance of our being individuated beings. And burying ourselves in "realizations" of "truth" on its own makes us no better, no more enlightened, than a dog. Sure a dog has Buddha nature, but does he know it?

We are capable of knowing it, and that capability demands that we live our lives based on that awareness and not on the intensity or frequency of our spiritual experiences or our claims to truth. Otherwise all realization, all experience, all spirituality is still just an ego pursuit. That's why turning inward, outward or both will ultimately fail unless we learn to keep ego out of the equation. That places demands on us, because we then have to live from that absolute ground where ego is not. It's one thing to touch that place in meditation; it's quite another to live from it. That demands commitment, integrity, and purity of motive before anything else. And ego will fight for its stories against those at all cost.

[Mark Lapierre]

What does it mean to live from that place of absolute consciousness? How does someone who live their lives in that manner do so differently than everyone else? And if you say one has to go there before one can truly understand, I'll be very disappointed.

ethereal, how do you know that the positive feedback you get isn't simply ego attempting to fool you?

[Gary]

Where you seek the truth and consciousness matters.

Would you drink water from a stagnant pond?

You are still essentially drinking water, but also poisoning your self at the same time.

When you are seeking the truth, seek the clearest source. Attempting to drink in wisdom from every source may poison you before you finish your journey.