EAT MY WORDS
By Jeff Foster
[Jeff Foster with his ever alert eyes and infectious
laughter is a dynamic and young Non-dual teacher very popular in the West.
He used to deliver the message of "No one there" with a bang a
few years ago. He admits his teaching style has changed now, thanks to the
interactions with people he has been having. It is not merely the style
that has changed. There is much more to it, perhaps even the focus.
The striking contrast in Jeff's response now and in
mid-2009 to starvation and hunger speaks volumes about this shift. His message
of 16th Dec 2012 is reproduced below. What he said in 2009 can
be seen here. I am deeply indebted to Jeff for his kind permission to let me post his message at our Blog and also for the love and affection with which he readily gave the consent – ramesam.]
EAT MY WORDS
Jeff Foster at FaceBook on 16 Dec 2012:
"Imagine this.
But you didn't hear what the child was really asking, did you? You played your role as "spiritual teacher" perfectly, yes, but the situation may have required something totally different, and in your rush to hold up an image, you just may have missed something essential.
We can get so lost in our spiritual stories, can't we. And sometimes we can forget that the one in front of us just needs a warm meal, a bed for the night, some practical help - the human touch. And then, maybe, when their basic needs are met, they may be open to something else, who knows. But that is all future-thinking. What is here, right now?
You give her a long lecture about the ins and outs of consciousness, the
perfection of 'what is', the paradox of the Absolute and the Relative, the
benefits of awakening to your true nature. You tell her the story of your own
awakening, how your life changed beyond recognition many years ago, how deeply
at peace you are right now, how you are changing your student's lives.
You
remind her about the illusion of choice, about how in reality there is no past
and future, that there is only Now. You tell her about suffering, how
ultimately it is all an illusion, how we only suffer when we are at war with
life, when we push away thoughts and feelings and sensations, when we stop
seeing 'what is' right in front of us in the moment. You insinuate that she
should accept 'what is' and stop her storytelling.
The child walks away. You feel satisfied - you spoke the Truth, without
compromise. You have just contributed to that child's awakening. Or so you
think.
Remember, that child cannot eat your words. She will still starve if she is not
fed. Words will not stop her from freezing to death tonight. Was she really
asking for more words? Is that what the situation was really calling for?
Teaching is not preaching, nor is it regurgitation. It is alive. It emerges
from seeing - from deep sensitivity to the one in front of you. Deep listening.
Meeting truth without agenda. And a willingness to drop any 'image' you are
carrying, even the image that you are a teacher with the answers.
Right now, are we able to really listen?"
5 comments:
Thank you ramesam and Jeff!
6I would be first scared of duality that needs to be handled. How can i remember that it is all one when the other is suffering. If i have some money may be i might give it up. I am not sure. But then the question arises how much should I keep and how much should I give. Probable I assume some decision would be arrived. It is rare in this world that hunger has to be confronted on life or death situation in an individualistic way. Well
the bubble will resolve itself and however it does it will.
Dear Anonymous,
All this cogitation you have mentioned is by the 'separate self' you think you are. And neither the 'separate self' nor any amount of thought can ever resolve the issue!
Why? Because, that is its (the separate self's) very way of survival - thinking and more thinking. 'Thinking' itself is the separate self.
So 'see and feel' the very first response that happens spontaneously within your bdoy-organism when a scene (of suffering or happiness) happens to be in your front. And let that feel just get expressed before the 'separate self' crops up with its taint of thinking and analysis.
If the first response is a 'scare', let it be. Just notice and leave it there. If it is to share money / food / a touch / a word ... let that be. And move on.
All the best and regards,
Why does Jeff think that Advaita teacher will not understand what all readers here understand? I can only conclude that Jeff has no exposure to traditional teachers.
I am not saying its hard to find a half baked deluded Advaitan but making this point a central theme is incorret.
This is a brilliant blog! I'm very happy with the comments!..
non dual teachers
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