A sense of connectedness is a stepping stone to the truth. It is not the end. Within connectedness there is a sense of someone... a 'who' that is suffering and grasping. The ego can only go this far because within this consciousness there are still the illusive walls of safety -- there is still an illusive base of self-affirmations. ... there is still the push and pull of acceptance and rejection... . there are still waves of the transient play of mind that is at the center. There is still a 'someone' hoping.... a 'someone' wondering. Though the ego may have seemed to expanded when oneness is entered as a more heightened sense of love may be felt which can bring pleasure, the winds of maya are still very much active and at work. There is no solid ground within oneness. Many books are written from this state of consciousness. The aim of many spiritual groups is oneness because it feels safe. It feels connected and special.
Within this consciousness it feels as if the ego can be a better helper to the world as the heart is impassioned and fueled with a heightened sense of love or a heightened sense of grandness - this driving energy keeps one going. Unfortunately, most stop here within the journey - content with living beside the truth. Content with smelling and listening to the item6bliving waters, but not entering. Within however, there still remains the seeds of discontent that bloom, and a pushing away of truth... a deadness that sits... a cover that hides the pure light. Within oneness still lies resistance. Oneness is not a free state and sometimes this state can stunt the growth as within it's wake there is contentment - the contentment of stagnation.
Zero consciousness is vastly different from oneness. Zero carries nothing.... no attributes.. . no pride... no false hope.... no colors... no sense of achievement. .. no levels .... no bridges.... no distinctions. .. no categories.. ..no specialness (thank goodness).. no up or down.... no *me* or *you*.... no ugly... no beautiful. Zero is nothing that can be spoken about or related. Zero can only be known when the mind is dead. When the mind stops it's movement and stillness is entered. When the safe lines are crossed - Zero is entered. Zero is not a person and can never become anything. Zero can never be made better and improved upon. Zero is not an achievement and cannot be perfected. Zero is present before the birth of the body ... carries on the same with the maturation of the body and remains the same after the body passes. Just like energy is ALWAYS equal - though it may appear to change hands and take a different shape -- it loses nothing, it gains nothing... it eternally stays the same. This is zero consciousness. This beauty is only known when the mind stills and reality presents itself in all directions - within, without. There is nothing beside 0-- nothing exists beside it as it is eternally what it is and can never change.
When zero-point consciousness is entered -- it is different than oneness in that within oneness, there is 'someone' loving, ;'someone' feeling better or worse... someone feeling expanded or constricted --- when 0-point consciousness is entered - it is KNOWN that the "me' did not come and go, but it never was... as a mirage never was. This is freedom... living completely free of the 'me' is freedom because within it, there are no self-imposed constrictions or boundaries.. . there is only flow and pure awareness... the eternal beauty that never dies... the clear space of now. There is nothing to improve up, nothing to do.... nothing to journey towards. There is only the stillness of NOW, the fullness that embraces all of life. There is not anyone pitted against another or aligned with another.... there is nothing... only silence of which the crisp sound and beauty of life emanates. There is no separation, a clear space... a vastness that awakens inherent wonder and joy... the seat of the heart -- the living waters..... this is zero point.
What a blessing that our dear Guruji is here to bring us to the ground of which there is no urther to walk. To bring us home to that truth of which there is no search and no suffering. o push the seeker further, past that last stepping stone, past that last little railing into the great expanse of NOW.
May all come to this beauty May all live in gratitude that the opportunity for freedom has now presented. May all dissolve within the truth and shine as a light In gratitude dear Guru thank you for guiding this O ne from darkness to light Shanti and Great Day
Response by Guru Swami G:
Yes Oneness is the Bliss of feeling totally Connected and in Sync with God ... One feels themselves as expanded and in Love with the Universe... This is the time where the seeker wants to mistakenly quit and remain --- After all there is still a me that is merged in God... One feels light and special -- gliding along in Bliss and Love with thier ideas of Compassion and Saving the world.... Everything is brighter and life is beautiful --- yet within this are still ups and downs that come and holding it all in place is the expanded ego that feels as if it has become a Co-Creator and has found it's Divine Self... This is what most **** strive**** after .... To be a special hand of God...
YET this is a far cry from Realization and entering into Enlightenment... In Realization there is dissolving into 0---- And True Freedom remains...
This is why seekers need a Sat Guru that has gone the Whole of the Journey versus one that speaks from Oneness... Oneness while the highest state in duality doesn't hold a candle to the Pure Clear Light of Realization... 0 point balance....
As wonderful as Oneness is to leave a Sadhaka there is to leave them in eventual suffering... At first one is enamored of the Oneness Bliss... It is like a honeymoon but it isn't Realization.... Therefore the Guru's and Sages continue to give Guidance to go forward beyond this most attractive point of bliss...
OM Shanti Thank you Siddhananda for this Seva. Guru Swami G