Spiritual Laws In Existence

Question:  What is existence and the relationship of perception?

Adonis:  The perception that I am speaking of must be understood within oneself and not from another.  (I am using the word perception as that seeing which is not a product of the mind.)  As we explore into this, I may point, but you must see everything for yourself.  Now when you ask the question, what is existence, it is a very broad question.  To ask a question can be one of the easiest things to do in the world.  To probe into it is another.  To uncover its every intricate detail takes great insight.  (The word insight means to see from within and not from ones memory and knowledge.)  When you ask the question, what is existence, are you asking from a fixed point?  Do you already have certain built up expectations of what you think the word means?  Surely, the mind has to be empty of all ideologies to see into this.  In a dictionary one find its definition, but to merely define a word does not answer the question.  I have a certain way of playing with words to penetrate their meaning.  Now if you look at the word 'existence,' you may see the word 'is' in the midst of it.  So, definitively, the word existence pertains to that which 'is.'  One may look out into the universe, the earth and all that is visible and ask is it real.  Can you actually find out?  Not tomorrow but here and now.  Not just repeat what others may or may not have said.  They could be right or wrong, but we want to actually find out ourselves.  So for one to ask, what is existence, I must ask from what point does the question arise within me?  Do 'I' exist?  The 'I' that is 'me,' is it an actual entity.  Is my 'self' real?  For something to be real, to actually exist, surely it has to be able to stand on its own without dependency or cause.  If one looks closely, as we have said, the self, which is the 'me,' the 'I' springs out of ones memory as thought.  Ones memory is the accumulation of past thoughts, experiences, emotions and so on.  Clearly, one can see it is an illusion being projected in the present moment.  An illusion is something that is false being accepted as true and real.  Therefore, the me, and all that I am is merely a false projection of the past.  Do you see this?  It is really rather simple.  Look, what we are going into is seeing the fact that what I am, is a movement of becoming, never being, never still.  So, after going so far into this, let us look closer at the question.  As we can now see, existence is being.  Existence means 'to be.'  The 'self,' that I think I am, is a dead movement trapped in becoming.  How am I, a human being, trapped in such a so-called existence?  Instead of 'being,' we are forever trying to become something other than what we are.  Trying to become something other than what you are, has no meaning.  Is this the cause of so much turmoil and conflict within and around us?  We are selfish, that is a fact and because we are selfish within ourselves, we breed selfishness in the world.  And all those who think they know how to free us from selfishness, they only add to it.  And because we are selfish and violent, that must end before we can speak of peace.  Any peace formed within you without being free of selfishness and violence, is only an idea.   A very soothing, comforting idea but it is still just a preconceived notion formed out of violence.  That is not spiritual peace.  The mind has to be free of violence and then discover what peace is.  So, for peace to exist, what I am, which is violence, must end.  A selfish violent human being can not become peace.  You may wear a mask and air of peace but underneath all that, violence remains raising its ugly head in various subtle ways. 

So, In order for me to be peaceful, I must face the fact of my violence and the very facing of it, not suppressing it, brings about its own transformation.  As long as I face life, I am sane.  The facing of life is in relationship with actuality.  So, I want to deal with the fact not fiction in everything I do and not be pretentious.  If one is angry, sad, hurt, or even selfish, to face it, is the most important thing.  Not try to become something other than what one is.  To me that which is, has meaning, every other idea, belief or concept away from this fact, is meaningless.  It is meaningless because it is dealing with the false no matter how noble it may seem. 

Looking into this, we discover there is only the fact of 'that which is.'  Not what we want to become.  The whole world has taught us how to escape into becoming and not just be without the desire of wanting to move into something else.  Can you do that?  Can you just observe your life as it is without the slightest desire to change it into something else?  Then perhaps, you may see what it means to live in the moment, in the here and now which is devoid of time, space and causation.  After all, if my mind is thinking and full of thoughts; can I see?  Is there seeing as long as the mind is not still, quiet, unperturbed?  You must go into that and not assume.  Let us not leave a single stone unturned.  When you see this clearly for yourself, what else is there to understand?  That very perception, free of time, leads you to the open door of spirituality, which points to the unknown. 

Question:  There are times when I perceive without a mental background.  It is very peaceful and harmonious.  What is the significance of this?

Adonis:  Now when we say that at times you perceive without the background, I wonder the depth of what you speak is actual.  The background is all that you are.  Your fears, thoughts, emotions, knowledge, likes and dislikes.  Do you understand what I mean by background?  When the head is consumed and clouded with memory.  As long as the mind is full it is tethered by all this which clouds ones perception.  As long as the mind is there with all its baggage; is there perception?  The perceiver is the self, the me, the 'I,' the background.   This perceiver is trapped in time as knowledge.  Forever accumulating, evaluating and censoring life.  So we are asking is there perception in which the perceiver, the psychological background, is not?  The mind has to be still to go into such a question.  The mind as thought, as movement, as consciousness, has to come to a full stop to penetrate into this question.  Then perhaps we may see the present moment here and now, which is free of all causations.  Is this the doorway within?  Is this the awakening of spirituality?  No one can answer this question for you.  You must look within yourself; knock until that door is opened within you.

SPIRITUAL TEACHER ADONIS ALEXANDER

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