What do you want?
Just ask yourself. And be honest. Be very honest, otherwise it’s just another form of distraction – which is fine, if that’s what you want.
And it doesn’t matter from where you come (Christian, Muslem, Hebrew, Hindu, Atheist, or just plain old human) what matters is that one realizes that diminishment is thoroughly self-destructive (arguably more so than physical death, because one can still die clinging to the greatest assumption of all).
However, the self-destructive effect of diminishment is what actually brings clarity & freedom. The good news is you don’t need anyone else to discover this 'truth realization' (no therapists, gurus, priests, charismatic preachers or enlightened anonymous Internet experts ;-).
All you need to do is to question, to clasp the scalple of scrutiny.
And aim it at yourself.
YOU are the only one able to do this in order to discover the answer.
The fact is, this route is a lonely one, and if you pursue it, you'll understand why. And diminshment is not aquisitive. So you'll gain absolutely nothing from it (entirely opposite to the evolving industry of self) it's about loss not gain, it's about not being so human, it's about not being so…you.
For for the price of a book you might benefit from some assistance. Listed below are some helpful personalities. However, following them or studying their personal lives is of no benefit, and will only encourage distraction, but sifting for what resonates with you, will be of great value.
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Alan Watts
Alan Watts (please Google for more info) Below are a just a couple of Youtube lectures, they’re very much worth listening to.
The Inevitable Ecstasy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-hGhhR6i5M
Myth and Religion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3x02dQTBjE&list=UU848b72MStS_1twAV97p0yQ
Jed McKenna
Jed McKenna offers the most direct, no nonsense, b/s free way to what he calls "abiding non-dual awareness", or, enlightenment. Wherever you begin, following his guidance via his books will see your search end, because there is an end to the idea of truth realisation.
http://jedmckenna.com
Shankara
From a hindu perspective.
http://www.self-realization.com/articles/sages/shankara.htm
Ibn Arabi
From a moslem perspective.
http://www.ibnarabisociety.org/themes.html
Meister Eckhart
From a christian perspective.
http://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Meister_Eckhart.html
Below is a great web resource, but you have to kinda know what you're looking for.
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DISCLAIMER:
Despite what one may think, feel or believe, a careful perusal of genuine enlightened testimony reveals one stark fact - it's not what you think it is… to the degree that if you knew what it actually was you probably wouldn't want it. Conversely a 'spiritual' journey tends to increase inner clutter and bestow profound conceptual fluff to the journeyer, and it's all wondrous, empowering - life-affirming stuff. May you live long and prosper!
Abiding non dual awareness, or enlightenment is none of this. And it's not something that one would choose. Herein lies the rub; depression, intense dissatisfaction & hopelessness are the most effective routes to enlightenment (bizarre huh?) because when one is in the midst of these states there's nothing left to lose, absolutely nothing. Ultimately it's destruction, diminishment, medication or a gradual recover to a better state, only to return at some point to the same state.
Enlightenment is the greatest, GREATEST loss one will ever know. As has been said, its 'alone-ly', peaceful and affords a clarity without comparison, and it's a place we'll all know eventually, so there really is no hurry, but if you are eager, know what you're getting yourself into.
Either way, it's all good!
DBX
