The music of Emily Maguire

[Jhanananda]

I really regret to say that during one of my depressions a couple of years ago I destroyed the treatise. It was really something special.  But I remember all the main details of it. I titled the treatise "The Wisdom of the Source: For the Eyes of Madmen Only". It was written in a great fury, and in one sitting, and was some fourteen pages long. To this very day I know that I did not write it  -  it came directly from the Source deep within me. It was pure spirit speaking. Much of it seemed like nonsense, but the main ideas in it would make sense to any mystic that would have read it.

Here are some of  the main ideas, which I remember, and I have paraphrased and presented them here in the form of an imaginary lecture spoken by the Source to the Intellect as in the original treatise:

Intellect, understand that I am the source of all wisdom directly speaking to you.

Intellect, I am so large that you can't even see me, and I am also the incomprehensible.

You intellect, are fighting a futile, horrible, savage and needless war with your own soldiers, against each other, trying to suppress me. This is the cause of your angst and depression.

You are very afraid of me, but you don't even know it, for it is not possible for you to know anything.

When you, Intellect, stand out of my way, I will emerge from the depths in glorious  splendor, and I am infinite in power, I can release great energies, and possess infinite creativity.

I am older than the beginning of time itself.

Intellect, you can only deceive, steel, murder with all of your foolish concepts, fears and ideas.

Intellect, Michel does not exist, this is your foolish idea, this is your invention.

Give up intellect, you cannot not possibly win against me, in the end you have always failed since beyond the beginning of time.

Understand this Intellect, you did not write this treatise, I the Source of all wisdom did.

Intellect, I am your lord and master, you should serve me, don't deny me, and then, and only then, will all your problems be solved.

Was this the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking here, or what?

I agree with much, if not all, of what your treatise states.  However, there is more to it, and the Noble Eightfold Path is a good description of the more.

I will do as you say. I try to practice these every day. Will discuss this important subject in detail in another post.

If we examine the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (bojjhanga, sambojjhanaga) we will see that your "manic" episodes manifest much of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

Seven Factors of Enlightenment (bojjhanga, sambojjhanaga)
1   Mindfulness & concentration   sati   7th fold of N8P
2   Self-enquiry & Investigation of the way   dhamma-vicaya    siddhi
3   Energy    viriya, vîrya/ Kundalini   iddhi-páda
4   Bliss   piiti   1st jhana
5   Tranquility    passaddhi   2nd jhana
6   Absorption    samadhi   Jhana/samadhi 1-8
7   Equanimity    upekkha   3rd jhana

What I see missing in your manic episodes is:

1   Mindfulness & concentration
2   Self-enquiry & Investigation of the way   dhamma-vicaya    siddhi
5   Tranquility    passaddhi   2nd jhana
7   Equanimity    upekkha   3rd jhana

Therefore, your work is to cultivate these 4 remaining Factors of Enlightenment.  When you have developed them, then we can say that you are a full on mystic, not a proto-mystic.

[Michel]

Jhananda:

I agree with much, if not all, of what your treatise states.  However, there is more to it, and the Noble Eightfold Path is a good description of the more.

I'm curious, what do you disagree with in the treatise?

Jhananda:

If we examine the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (bojjhanga, sambojjhanaga) we will see that your "manic" episodes manifest much of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

Seven Factors of Enlightenment (bojjhanga, sambojjhanaga)
1   Mindfulness & concentration   sati   7th fold of N8P
2   Self-enquiry & Investigation of the way   dhamma-vicaya    siddhi
3   Energy    viriya, vîrya/ Kundalini   iddhi-páda
4   Bliss   piiti   1st jhana
5   Tranquility    passaddhi   2nd jhana
6   Absorption    samadhi   Jhana/samadhi 1-8
7   Equanimity    upekkha   3rd jhana

What I see missing in your manic episodes is:

1   Mindfulness & concentration
2   Self-enquiry & Investigation of the way   dhamma-vicaya    siddhi
5   Tranquility    passaddhi   2nd jhana
7   Equanimity    upekkha   3rd jhana

Therefore, your work is to cultivate these 4 remaining Factors of Enlightenment.  When you have developed them, then we can say that you are a full on mystic, not a proto-mystic.

As for the 1st factor, mindfulness & concentration, I think I know how to practice it. I try to do it as much as possible every moment even though there are many distractions throughout the day. I try to keep those distractions to a minimum. I do not want to have any friends that are not contemplatives. I try to be alone as much as possible. I live alone, I am a recluse by nature and I am very comfortable with my solitude. To me silence is a real pleasure, and I find it difficult and at times painful to speak or to be around none-contemplatives, they have nothing really interesting to say, and far too often try to engage me in useless idle chatter simply because they are uncomfortable with being silent or being around someone who is. The forum here is my connection to the people I choose to interact with. Anyways, I do frequent walking meditation sessions and sometimes I can achieve the 1st jhana, and then I'll do sitting meditation. Progress is slow, and there are many set backs, I sometimes have to relearn everything because for some reason the mind/body forgets. I find Eckhart Tolle's book "The Power of Now" to be an excellent guide on practicing mindfulness & concentration. He even uses the exact same term, the "Source", as in my treatise, "The wisdom of the Source", which was written in 1982. Seems everyone discovers the same thing and uses the same terminology when it comes to describing spiritual phenomena.

As for the 2nd factor, self-enquiry & investigation of the way, I have studied this closely, and regularly engage in self-enquiry. I question and examine the motivation for everything I do throughout the day, and see if I'm practicing the Eightfold Path, which is the subject of my investigation of the way.

As for the 5th factor,  tranquility of the 2nd jhana, I'm not there yet, but I try to avoid patterns of thought and situations that cause angst and worry.

As for the 7th factor, equanimity of the 3rd jhana, even though I'm not there yet, I try to allow everything to happen without resistance, interference or thought. The attitude is everything is fine as it is, and I just have to accept everything. But of course there are exceptions, one cannot remain totally passive..

[Jhanananda]

I'm curious, what do you disagree with in the treatise?

The problem I have with your treatise is the tone.  Where is the bliss (piiti), joy (sukha) and ecstasy (jhana)?  Otherwise I agree with it.

As for the 1st factor, mindfulness & concentration, I think I know how to practice it. I try to do it as much as possible every moment even though there are many distractions throughout the day. I try to keep those distractions to a minimum.

Being mindful in every moment takes practice and discipline.  It is good that you are making the effort.  It will pay off.

I do not want to have any friends that are not contemplatives. I try to be alone as much as possible. I live alone, I am a recluse by nature, and I am very comfortable with my solitude. To me silence is a real pleasure, and I find it difficult, and at times painful, to speak to or be around none-contemplatives, they have nothing really interesting to say, and far too often try to engage me in useless idle chatter simply because they are uncomfortable with being silent, or being around someone who is. The forum here is my connection to the people I choose to interact with.

I am a recluse as well.  People have not shown me much kindness are understanding, so I see no point in spending time with them.

Anyways, I do frequent walking meditation sessions, and sometimes I can achieve the 1st jhana, and then I'll do sitting meditation. Progress is slow, and there are many set backs, I sometimes have to relearn everything because for some reason the mind/body forgets.

Formal meditation practice is all part of the practice of sati.  This is good.

I find Eckhart Tolle's book "The Power of Now" to be an excellent guide on practicing mindfulness & concentration. He even uses the exact same term, the "Source", as in my treatise, "The wisdom of the Source", which was written in 1982. Seems everyone discovers the same thing and uses the same terminology when it comes to describing spiritual phenomena.

The genuine mystics will all be saying the same thing.  It is just the translators who too frequently get the translation wrong.

As for the 2nd factor, self-enquiry & investigation of the way, I have studied this closely, and regularly engage in self-enquiry. I question and examine the motivation for everything I do throughout the day, and see if I'm practicing the Eightfold Path, which is the subject of my investigation of the way.

Very good.

As for the 5th factor,  tranquility of the 2nd jhana, I'm not there yet, but I try to avoid patterns of thought and situations that cause angst and worry.

As for the 7th factor, equanimity of the 3rd jhana, even though I'm not there yet, I try to allow everything to happen without resistance, interference or thought. The attitude is everything is fine as it is, and I just have to accept everything. But of course there are exceptions, one cannot remain totally passive..

Just living in the present, and practicing mindfulness will eventually pay off.  It just takes time and patience and diligence.

I did find myself reflecting upon Emily Maguires lyrics, and your recent comments.  Particularly the idea that you could ride a motor cycle across the ocean.  Believing that you could do that is fantastic thinking, or it is also called 'magical thinking."  We get these fantastic ideas from religion.  All religions have their fantastic stories, so it is understandable that we would believe that if we are enlightened, then we should develop fantastic magical powers.

Following some of my most profound religious experiences I too thought, "well, if I am enlightened, then I should have fantastic magical powers, or at least the "source" would feed, cloth and meet my various needs.  Well, of course, none of that happened, but I did test the hypothesis.  Fortunately I did not starve to death waiting for the divine feed bag to show up, or for a community of sincere seekers to provide for me.  Instead I went out and got a job.

So, at the core of delusional thinking is fantastic magical thinking.  Every religion has its fantastic magical thinking, this is what we need to dump, while seeking to live an enlightened life.

[Michel]

Jhananda:

The problem I have with your treatise is the tone.  Where is the bliss (piiti), joy (sukha) and ecstasy (jhana)?  Otherwise I agree with it.

When I wrote the actual treatise I was totally euphoric and blissed out with laughter. The synopsis of the actual treatise above doesn't convey that.

Jhananda:

Following some of my most profound religious experiences I too thought, "well, if I am enlightened, then I should have fantastic magical powers, or at least the "source" would feed, cloth and meet my various needs.  Well, of course, none of that happened, but I did test the hypothesis.  Fortunately I did not starve to death waiting for the divine feed bag to show up, or for a community of sincere seekers to provide for me.  Instead I went out and got a job.
So, at the core of delusional thinking is fantastic magical thinking.  Every religion has its fantastic magical thinking, this is what we need to dump, while seeking to live an enlightened life.

The suttas are full of examples of magical powers, the fruits of attainment. Why is this so?
 

Michel: I find Eckhart Tolle's book "The Power of Now" to be an excellent guide on practicing mindfulness & concentration. He even uses the exact same term, the "Source", as in my treatise, "The wisdom of the Source", which was written in 1982. Seems everyone discovers the same thing and uses the same terminology when it comes to describing spiritual phenomena.
Jhananda: The genuine mystics will all be saying the same thing.  It is just the translators who too frequently get the translation wrong.

Eckhart Tolle is highly influenced by Mahayana ideas. He also thinks that he's enlightened. Could one say that if one is enlightened one would reject many of the Mahayana ideas?

Jhananda:

Fortunately I did not starve to death waiting for the divine feed bag to show up, or for a community of sincere seekers to provide for me.  Instead I went out and got a job.

What a waste of precious time. I spent some 25 years doing meaningless work in the Canadian civil service. One of my psychiatrists tried to convince me that what I was doing there was important and interesting. I was only interested in having jobs that had the least amount of stress and responsibility. At night and on weekends I devoted my time to music, and reading the classics of literature. I especially enjoyed reading the Russian authors, from Chekhov to Tolstoy. As for spiritual books, I discovered J. Krishnamurti back in 1977. He talks about non-duality and the nature of reality. I found and still find his work to be opaque, but I do like his spirit of inquiry; it forced me to look closely at my own experience on important matters of the soul.

[Jhanananda]

When I wrote the actual treatise I was totally euphoric and blissed out with laughter. The synopsis of the actual treatise above doesn't convey that.

OK, so more of the factors of enlightenment were present.

The suttas are full of examples of magical powers, the fruits of attainment. Why is this so?

Considering the Siddhis, Occult, or Magic Powers of the Mystics


Miracles, psychic powers and fantastic claims in mysticism and shamanism

Eckhart Tolle is highly influenced by Mahayana ideas. He also thinks that he's enlightened. Could one say that if one is enlightened one would reject many of the Mahayana ideas?

I have found that Mahayana Buddhism is as much a fraud as most religions.  Also, I have heard that Eckhart Tolle believes that he is "full on enlightened."  However, all he talks about is at best the 2nd jhana, which is more attainment than any Buddhist priest I have met.

What a waste of precious time. I spent some 25 years doing meaningless work in the Canadian civil service. One of my psychiatrists tried to convince me that what I was doing there was important and interesting. I was only interested in having jobs that had the least amount of stress and responsibility. At night and on weekends I devoted my time to music, and reading the classics of literature. I especially enjoyed reading the Russian authors, from Chekhov to Tolstoy. As for spiritual books, I discovered J. Krishnamurti back in 1977. He talks about non-duality and the nature of reality. I found and still find his work to be opaque, but I do like his spirit of inquiry; it forced me to look closely at my own experience on important matters of the soul.

It sounds like you occupied yourself constructively; however, when the enlightened only have a job offered them, and there is not interest in what they say, while everyone is in mad pursuit of the 7 deadly sins, then we can conclude that we are in a hell plane.

I met  J. Krishnamurti in 1976.  I find most non-dualism is mostly just another head game.  However, those who have genuine religious experiences tend to describe it in non-dual terms.