Awesome quote on polarity...

[Erock]

So I was reading I Am That, an incredible book that is changing my life, and I came across a quote from Maharaj that describes polarization perfectly. He is most definitely a realized man.


Question: How am I to proceed to realize my universal being?

Maharaj: You have two ways: you can give your heart and mind to self-discovery, or you accept my words on trust and act accordingly. In other words, either you become totally self-concerned, or totally un-self-concerned. It is the world 'totally' that is important. You must be extreme to reach the Supreme.


I like that tagline too: "You must be extreme to reach the Supreme"

Erock

[Takuin Minamoto]

That is really only one way, and not two.

You can give your heart and mind to self-discovery, or you accept my words on trust and act accordingly.

Since the first option is his suggestion, it is the same as the second option. So what he is really saying is:

You can accept my words on trust and act accordingly, or you accept my words on trust and act accordingly.

If you become totally self-concerned, or totally un-self-concerned, it is really the same thing. Your attention is there, attempting to be one, or the other. I would question the need for either.

But I know nothing about Maharaj. And also, there may be more to this quote than what I am seeing here in front of me. I do not know the meaning of Supreme, as it is used, and I am also not clear when the questioner asks about realizing his/her universal being.

I have heard of this book, but know nothing about it. It sounds interesting, though.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Erock

In other words, either you become totally self-concerned, or totally un-self-concerned. It is the world 'totally' that is important. You must be extreme to reach the Supreme.
Erock

The world 'totally' is important. I took this to mean, either self-concerned or un-self-concerned means the same thing within the context of the world 'totally'.

Thanks for finding some other source that seems to jive with the Pavlinian Polarity model.

[Jaben]

Here is a polarization quote from I am That:

Q: Then what is worth wanting?
M: Want the best. The highest happiness, the greatest freedom. Desirelessness is the highest bliss.
Q: Freedom from desire is not the freedom I want. I want the freedom to fulfil my longings.
M: You are free to fulfil your longings. As a matter of fact, you are doing nothing else.
Q: I try, but there are obstacles which leave me frustrated.
M: Overcome them.
Q: I cannot, I am too weak.
M: What makes you weak? What is weakness? Others fulfil their desires, why don't you?
Q: I must be lacking energy.
M: What happened to your energy? Where did it go? Did you not scatter it over so many contradictory desires and pursuits? You don't have an infinite supply of energy.
Q: Why not?
M: Your aims are small and low. They do not call for more. Only God's energy is infinite -- because He wants nothing for Himself. Be like Him and all your desires will be fulfilled. The higher your aims and vaster your desires, the more energy you will have for their fulfilment. Desire the good of all and the universe will work with you. But if you want your own pleasure, you must earn it the hard way.
Before desiring, deserve.

[Basu]

Before desiring, deserve --- That's what everything boils down to, isn't it so?

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Jaben

Here is a polarization quote from I am That:

I fail to see where there's any mention of polarity in that qoute. This seems like a quote to point at not being focused but nothing about service to self or others as a needed choice. "Scattering contradictory desires and pursuits" - does not say you are mixing polarities or being motivated by thinking of servive to self and service to others at the same time and that's causing obsticles.

[Jaben]

You're right Wolfgang, it doesn't really define or describe polarization, but for me it brought clarity to some of the principles behind polarization.

I see polarization as a means to help you focus energy and draw it from the universe. If you switch back and forth between self and others your attention is likely to bounce between conflicting desires and pursuits. I'm suggesting that's the one and only reason switching between polarities is a problem; it is more difficult to maintain focus.

The point in the quote that I like is it states that the wider the consideration of the desire the more energy will be provided. Whether you are polarizing with dark or light, the amount of energy drawn from the universe correlates with how wide your consideration of others is. The difference is the motivation behind the consideration which becomes less relevant as the person increases in awareness.