Whimsy – Silly Sutras: Recent Episodes
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“I consider myself a Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, and Confucian.”~ Mahatma Gandhi
“I have learned so much from GodThat I can no longer call myselfa Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew”~ Hafiz
“Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi or Zen.Not any religion, or cultural system. I am not from the East or the West,nor out of the ocean or up from the ground,not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all.I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or the next,did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story.My place is placeless, a trace of the traceless. Neither body nor soul.I belong to the beloved have seen the two worlds as one and that one call to and know,First, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human.”~ Rumi, ‘Only Breath’
“Wherever I look, I see men quarreling in the name of religion — Hindus, Mohammendans, Brahmos, Vaishnavas, and the rest.But they never reflect that He who is called Krishna is also called Siva, and bears the name of the Primal Energy, Jesus, and Allah as well–the same Rama with a thousand names.A lake has several ghats.At one the Hindus take water in pitchers and call it ‘jal’; at another the Mussalmans take water in leather bags and call it ‘pani’. At a third the Christians call it ‘water’.Can we imagine that it is not ‘jal’, but only ‘pani’ or ‘water’?How ridiculous! The substance is One under different names, and everyone is seeking the same substance;only climate, temperament, and name create differences.Let each man follow his own path. If he sincerely and ardently wishes to know God, peace be unto him!He will surely realize Him.”~ Sri Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
“The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion.It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology.Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity.”~ Albert Einstein
“Today, … any religion-based answer to the problem of our neglect of inner values can never be universal,and so will be inadequate.” . . .“[T]he time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics that is beyond religion.” ~ Dalai Lama
“Irrevocable commitment to any one religion is not only intellectual suicide; it is positive unfaith because it closes the mind to any new vision of the world.”~ Alan Watts
“The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear.” ~ J. Krishnamurti
“If there is love in your heart you don’t have to worry about rules.”~ Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas
“Your task is not to seek for love,but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourselfthat you have built against it.”~ Rumi
“Follow dharma, not dogma.”~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Ron’s Introduction to “New Paradigm-ism”
Dear Friends,
Soon after my midlife spiritual awakening I began wondering with concern why Western monotheistic fundamentalism had often resulted in religious crusades, inquisitions, and jihads against alleged heretics or nonbelievers in a supposed one true Messiah or God.
And I soon learned that some Eastern religions have violent fundamentalist sects. [see https://sillysutras.com/monistic-musings-reflections-and-questions-on-god-and-divinity/]
The following sutra essay/poem (with mp3 recitation) is about our need for a new societal paradigm of universal kindness and compassion beyond religion.
Composed long before launching of the SillySutras website, it was later posted online with the above quotations, encouraged by publication of the Dalai Lama’s book Beyond Religion: Ethics For A Whole World.
On composing and later posting this sutra/poem, with quotations, I was concerned about unjust racist, religious, political, and economic ideologies, which are explained in the poem, and in my following dedication comments urging that humankind harmoniously live together as LOVE.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
New Paradigm-ism
Let’s get beyondCatholicism – Protestantism – Judaism – Mohammedanism –Hinduism – Buddhism – Taoism – Confucianism – ShamanismAnd all other belief “isms”.It’s time to endreligious ism schisms.It’s time to blend religion-ismwith syncretism.So, let us transcendIsm dogmatismAnd live ismlessly asLOVE!
Ron’s audio explanation and recitation of “New Paradigm”-ism
Ron’s explanation and dedication of “New Paradigm”-ism
As explained in the above Introduction, “New Paradigm-ism” was first posted with concern about evils perpetrated in the name of fundamentalist religious beliefs.
And as a deeply dedicated social justice advocate I’ve long been bothered by
unjust racist, religious, political, and economic ideologies, that also foment ignorant fears and violence, because (as wisely written by Dr. Martin Luther King while wrongfully jailed in Selma, Alabama), “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
This is so because:
In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.
~ Mark Twain, Autobiography
Thus this posting is respectfully dedicated to inspiring our compassionate beliefs and behaviors, learned from our unique life experiences, that advance humankind’s inevitable transcendence of unjust racist, religious, political, and economic ideologies, so we may harmoniously live together as LOVE.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
“The identification of pure awareness with the mind and its creations causes the [mistaken] apprehension of both an objective worldand a [separate] perceiver of it.” ~ Patanjali – Yoga Sutras
“A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering.” ~ Buddha
“Concerning matter, we have been all wrong.What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses. There is no matter.”“There is no place in this new kind of physics both for the field and matter, for the [Quantum] field is the only reality.”~ Albert Einstein
“All things are vibrating energy fields in ceaseless motion. ….What we perceive as physical matter is energy vibrating (moving) at a particular range of frequencies.Thoughts consist of the same energyvibrating at a higher frequency than matter,which is why they cannot be seen or touched.Thoughts have their own range of frequencies,with negative thoughts at the lower end of the scaleand positive thoughts at the higher.”~ Eckhart Tolle – A New Earth
Lofty intentions fuel our ascensions to higher dimensions.So, always aspire to be ever higher.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Ron’s Introduction to “Transformation”
Dear Friends,
Ancient shamans, seers, and indigenous societies have intuitively known for millennia that there is a cosmic web of life connecting everything and everyone in Nature – from the greatest galaxies to the tiniest sub-atomic particles; that we are each an integral inter-connected part of Nature’s web of life – not separate from it; and that, as Albert Einstein observed:
“Our separation of each other is an optical illusion of consciousness.”
Today’s posting, like most other SillySutras postings, is intended to inspire our spiritual evolution, and thereby to help us live ever happier lives.
The spiritual evolution process is often called “transformation”. So today’s posting includes quotations, comments and the following brief poem, titled “Transformation”, (with mp3 recitation) about our spiritual awakening to ever elevated states of Being.
My comments after the poetic verses help explain the spiritual importance of “Transformation”. Please consider them as you enjoy this “Transformation” posting.
Ron Rattner
Transformation
Transformation andtransfiguration– like creation –are vibration.So, elevationof vibrationof creationbrings transformationand transfigurationof manifestation.
Ron’s audio recitation of “Transformation”
Ron’s explanation of “Transformation”
Dear Friends,
Most SillySutras postings are intended to help us live ever happier, loving, and more peaceful lives, while we still mentally self-identify as mortals separate from each other and Nature. Without emphasis on any path or teacher, they are aimed at inspiring our spiritual transformation from the unavoidable earthly third dimension [3D] ego-mind illusion of time, space, and duality toward awakened eternal existence as ONE Divine LOVE
Though very rare awakened Avatars have achieved transformation from Humanity to Divinity – from human consciousness to superconsciousness – the overwhelmingly vast majority of Humankind are still spiritually evolving, experientially learning from life, and remembering our true Divine Self-identity.
“Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive, it isn’t.” ~ Richard Bach “If you’re not dead yet, you’re not done yet.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert (quoting her mother)
Mystics tell us that our beautiful planet Earth is an ever impermanent and illusory mental reality created by our behaviors and thoughts – a dreamlike mirage.
“We are what we think.All that we are arises with our thoughts.With our thoughts, we make the world.”~Buddha
Though Einstein’s insights revolutionized our scientific understanding of space/time “reality”, most humans haven’t yet changed their ways of thinking about such illusionary “reality”.
Until now, most Humankind have mistakenly kept behaving as if they are separated from each other and Nature, and not part of it. This behavior has resulted in continuing selfishness, cruelty, wars and unsustainable and disharmonious exploitation of each other and our beautiful planet.
But gradually we are awakening. From seeing everyone and everything as discrete, and separated by apparently immutable boundaries, we are more and more realizing that everyone and everything shares Universal awareness as our common essence and Eternal Source.
Depending on whether we are in harmony or dis-harmony with Nature, our unique thoughts and behaviors either hasten or impede our spiritual evolution and transformation.
Invocation
Ever mindful that we are eternally interconnected and coexist with all Life on our beautiful blue planet Earth, let us ever BE loving, kind, compassionate, and harmonious with all earthly beings and lifeforms.Ever mindful that Nature is our nature, let us see and cherish Nature in everything and everyone. Ever mindful of our existence as ONE Divine LOVE,let us always BE and live as eternal LOVE!
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
“Ego is the biggest enemy of humans.”~ Rig Veda
“Free of ego, living naturally, working virtuously,you become filled with inexhaustible vitality and are liberated forever from the cycle of death and rebirth.”~ Lao Tzu
“In the end these things matter most:How well did you love?How fully did you love?How deeply did you learn to let go?”~ The Buddha
By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try,the world is beyond the winning. ~ Lao Tzu
“They are the chosen ones who have surrendered.”~ Rumi
“Surrender is faiththat the power of Love can accomplish anything,even when you cannot foresee the outcome.”~ Deepak Chopra
Love is the sacrifice of will.If you cannot leave will behindYou have no will at all.~ Rumi
Q.* How much “ego” do you need?A.* Just enough so that you don’t step in front of a bus.~ Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
We have nothing to surrenderBut the ideaThat we’re someone,With somethingTo surrender.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Ron’s Introduction to Surrender and Let Go of Ego
Dear Friends,
Beginning thirty years ago, during a long post-retirement secluded period of meditation, introspection, and prayer, I began wondering and writing about the evolutionary spiritual significance of surrendering and letting go of ego. [See https://sillysutras.com/?p=2411]
At age ninety, as I update my memoirs with perspectives learned so far from this precious human lifetime, surrendering and letting go of our false separate ego-mind identity remains fundamental to our individual and collective karmic and dharmic spiritual evolution.
So I’m republishing the above and following quotations and large collection of sutra sayings (with recorded mp3 recitation), and my explanatory comments concerning the critical importance of surrendering and transcending ego.
May these writings help us, individually and as a global family, let go of ego to reveal and heal all sufferings from unfulfilled and futile ego-mind ideas and desires.
And so may it be!
Ron’s Sutra Sayings on Surrendering Ego.
We have nothing to surrenderbut the idea thatwe’re someone,with somethingto surrender.Let’s let goandlet life live us,as Love.Let’s leave it to theLone Arranger.Let’s let go, and “go with the flow”.**Being “in the flow” is thought-free, effortless, and focused
merging of intention, action, and awareness
as consciousness – consciously letting Life happen through you.Tao is Now,Tao is One,Tao is Doer,Tao will be done.Tao will be done.So let Tao do it.Give your spiritual‘power of attorney’to God.“Let go, and let God.”**Unity Church maxim
Leave it to the Lone Arranger.Ego Antidote:The root of all problems isI/me/mine.End it with antidote,Thy/Thee/Thine.Ego: Use it to lose it!Immolate egoin the fire of faith.As ego goesconsciousness growsuntil it Knows –Itself.Ego is free to choose,but is never free.Self does not choose,but is ever free.Our only choiceis to acceptor reject“what is”.Acceptance is pleasure;rejection is suffering.Acceptance is freedom;rejection is bondage.Acceptance is NOW;rejection is then.So, if choose you must,then with faith and trust,say “yes” to Life.With radical trustwe do as we must.The more we trustthe less we try.Enter a state of enlightened amnesia:Be now;forget then.Remember God;forget the rest.Forget who you think you are,to remember what you really are.
Ron’s audio recitation of Sutra Sayings- Surrender and Let Go of Ego
Ron’s explanation of Sutra Sayings– Surrender and Let Go of Ego
Dear Friends,
I consider of critical importance to our spiritual evolution the surrendering and transcending of our false separate self/identity with our ego-mind “I” thoughts.
In many prior postings I’ve explained that the greatest obstacle to our spiritual evolution is ego-mind, our “phantom self” misidentification with thoughts and labels, rather than with Eternal infinite existence as Divine LOVE, our true immortal SELF.
Ancient Rig Veda scripture says that “Ego is the biggest enemy of humans”. And transcending ego is the fundamental message of all enduring spiritual teachings.
Therefore at age ninety, and while we are now experiencing exceptionally advantageous cosmic energies and auspicious astrological planetary alignments favorable to spiritual evolution, I’m updating and republishing postings which can most help us benefit from that energy.
Previously in “Words About Wishes” I’ve explained that ego-mind’s futile pursuit of illusory and impermanent external pleasures and desires can never give lasting happiness. So this posting discusses the most effective ‘antidotes’ to such futile pursuit of external pleasures and desires – viz. the letting go, surrendering and thought-free acceptance of those egoic desires.
In “The Power of Now” Eckhart Tolle defines “ego” as a “phantom self” and explains that transcending ego is of universally pre-eminent importance, because as long as we are identified with our mind the ego runs our life.
I agree with Tolle and have composed many silly sutras about surrendering ego, including those published above. They are respectfully offered to remind us to follow our eternal inner guidance and always “go with the flow” for the benefit of others.
This message is especially important in current turbulent times, which have disrupted and jeopardized earth-life for billions of people worldwide.
If we let life live us as LOVE, these challenging times can afford us immense evolutionary opportunities to co-create not just a better world, but a radically transformed world – with constant kindness and compassion for all life-forms everywhere.
Dedication
May these writings help us,individually and as a global family,let go of ego to reveal and heal all sufferingsfrom unfulfilled and futile ego-mind ideas and desires.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” ~ Lao Tzu “The mind is a bundle of thoughts. The thoughts arise because there is the thinker. The thinker is the ego. The ego and the mind are the same. The ego is the root-thought from which all other thoughts…
“Remember God, forget the rest.” ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings “Forget who you think you are, to know what you really are.” ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings “Just BE Divinity – Ego-Free LOVE!.” ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings Remember! ~ Ron’s Memoirs Ron’s Introduction to “Remember!” Dear Friends, Thirty years ago, during a long post-retirement…
“Ego is the biggest enemy of humans. ” ~ Rig Veda “All troubles come to an end when the ego dies” ~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa “The mind is a bundle of thoughts. The thoughts arise because there is the thinker. The thinker is the ego. The ego, if sought, will automatically vanish. The ego and…
“[Self] Realization is of the fact that you are not a person.”~ Nisargadatta Maharaj
“Just as it is knownThat an image of one’s face is seenDepending on a mirrorBut does not really exist as a face,So the conception of “I” existsDependent on mind and body,But like the image of a faceThe “I” does not at all exist as its own reality.”~ Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland of Advice
“The Witness and the witnessed are ONE.”~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Ron’s Introduction to Who or What Are We?
Dear Friends,
Over forty years ago, I was blessed with the immensely transformative insight that I was not merely my physical body, its thoughts or its story – with which until then I’d always self-identified – but the ONE consciousness from which they arose.
In 1975, during a traumatic divorce and mid-life crisis, I experienced what some Hindus call a spontaneous awakening of the Kundalini energy, with sudden realization that I was much more than my mortal physical body, its story and thoughts.
That realization triggered my unforgettable born-again “rebirth” with many amazing mystical experiences which forever changed the remainder of my life, impelling me to soulfully reconsider whether the universe was what from childhood I’d been taught, thought and believed.
Accordingly, I began studying, and have embraced as ultimate Truth, Eastern non-duality philosophy – especially that of Advaita Hinduism and Buddhism. That philosophical truth is the essence of Vedanta and the Advaita wisdom path of Self-inquiry.
It is succinctly summarized in these sutra verses, composed long ago:
Who or What Are We?
We are the screen,not the movie.We are the Glory,not the story.We are Rama,not the drama.We are the Whole,not our role.Aum Ram Sovayam,Aum Ram Sovayam,Aum Ram Sovayam!We are THAT,We are THAT,We are THAT!
Ron’s audio explanation and recitation of Who or What Are We?
Ron’s dedication and invocation for Who or What Are We?
Since embracing Advaita Vedanta non-dualism philosophy, I’ve enjoyed ever growing happiness, and ever less fear of death by increasingly Self-identifying and BEING ONE as Eternal spirit, rather than a separate mortal physical body.
Therefore, this posting is deeply dedicated to helping us and countless others to so enjoy happy lives.
Invocation
May we bless the WholeBy BEING ONE – asEternal Spirit,Life, Light, LOVE
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” ~ Buddha
This world is wrought with naught but thought.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Thinking and Being can’t coexist.So stop thinking and start Being.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Forget who you think you areto Know what you really are.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Spirit speaks when mind is mute.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Theory Of Everything:Consciousness = Subject = Object = Self~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Never Mind!
From mind comes this:
From this comes that:But that is this –and this is that.*So, never mind –And that is THAT!***
*Ron’s audio recitation of “Never Mind!”*
Ron’s Explanation of “Never Mind!”
Dear Friends,The foregoing six line whimsical “Never Mind!” poem suggests – jestingly but seriously – that each person’s experience of this world is but an illusory mental projection of Cosmic Consciousness – which is the Absolute non-duality Reality.
I ‘channeled’ this poem many years ago during a Marin County public program by U.S.A. non-duality teacher and author Gangaji, which I attended years after my beloved Guruji had returned to India from his only visit to the US.
I had then begun relying for spiritual guidance upon inner – rather than outer – authority, and was increasingly aware that “inner” and “outer” were like obverse perspectives of the same Absolute non-duality reality. So soon after composing this poem I stopped attending public programs or lectures by incarnate spiritual teachers.
During her program, Gangaji openly entertained questions from the audience, mostly from confused or emotionally distraught people caught up in their personal ‘soap operas’. Gangaji calmly and respectfully listened to and dialogued with each questioner, attempting to direct them to a non-dualist resolution of their worldly concerns. But most questioners didn’t seem to understand her teachings.
As I listened to Gangaji’s dialogues, I felt frustrated by the questioners’ frequent inability to comprehend Gangaji’s remarks. Whereupon I ‘channeled’ the foregoing simple but universal poetic answer to every confused questioner.
Please enjoy “Never Mind!”.
Dedication of “Never Mind”
May these whimsical versesAnd above Sutra SayingsHelp us remember thatThis apparently stable, tangible, visible, audible world,Is an illusion – samsara or maya;That ‘reality isn’t real’,But just our thoughts.That this “reality” isA kaleidoscopic, fractal and holographic theater of the mind.An illusory mental projection of ineffable absolute non-duality Reality.And that is THAT!
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
“All the world’s a stage,And all the men and women merely players”~ William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII
May we bless the wholeas we play our rolein the cosmic theater of life.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
“You are awareness, disguised as a person.” ~ Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” “For in truth it is life that gives unto life – while you, who deem yourself a giver, is but a witness.” ~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
“Love is the highest, the grandest, the most inspiring,the most sublime principle in creation.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda
“Love Is The Law Of Life: All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love’s sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.” ~ Swami Vivekananda
Ron’s Introduction of “Players’ Prayer”
Dear Friends,
The following “Player’s Prayer” sutra poem (composed years ago) was inspired by William Shakespeare’s mystical insight that all world’s a stage on which we each play different roles. (As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII).
It was intended to remind us to help bless the world every day, not just on days deemed ‘special’ for expressing love, kindness and affection – like Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or anniversaries; but to always “bless the Whole, as we play our role in the cosmic theater of life”.
Whatever our role in each ephemeral human lifetime, this “Players’ Prayer” encourages our always behaving with instinctive tolerance and generosity. It is intended to help awaken us to our true common Self-identity; to Realization that we all are Universal LOVE, disguised as persons on the ‘world’s stage’, in a Divine play of Cosmic Consciousness.
Until our destined ultimate Self-Realization as timeless LOVE, may we thereby live ever happier and more fulfilling lives.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
Players’ Prayer
May we bless the wholeas we play our rolein the cosmic theater of life.Ever a part in it,never apart from it,in happiness or strife.May we grow wiseand harmonize,though chaos seems e’er rife.‘Til we’re the Whole –and not the role,and Holiness is Life.
Ron’s recitation of “Players’ Prayer”
Ron’s explanation and dedication of “Players’ Prayer”
Dear Friends,
The foregoing “Players’ Prayer” reminds us that we are all spiritually connected, and that everything we think do or say changes this world in some way. So we need not be avowed spiritual seekers or practitioners to spiritually bless this beautiful world. Whatever may be our role as ‘players’ in an ever changing cosmic drama, we bless the world by lovingly accepting and treating others – not just those deemed near and dear to us by affinity or consanguinity.
Most ordinary people with different life roles, are instinctively motivated to be tolerant and helpful in their relationships with others, even though they may live in societies corrupted by greed and injustice. They just want to live and let live in peace. So we gradually and instinctively can learn to accept others as divine sisters and brothers, as we lose illusory ego-mind inhibitions and apprehensions, and realize our deep spiritual Oneness with them, and with Nature and all its lifeforms.
Moreover, we can learn from history’s greatest exemplars of Divine LOVE to not mentally judge others, but (with open hearts) to accept and forgive everyone, even supposed adversaries or betrayers (like Judas Iscariot). That is why Jesus (as an incarnate avatar of LOVE) taught by example to love even our enemies, not just our neighbors, and why he prayerfully beseeched Divine forgiveness for his murderers while suffering an excruciatingly painful death by crucifixion:
“Father, forgive them they know not what they do.”(Luke-23:34).
We ignorantly hurt ourselves by hurting or hating others, until we learn the divine Truth that we and others are ONE. Whereupon we realize that unconditional forgiveness and acceptance of others is true LOVE, which eternally blesses all creation.
Conclusion and Invocation.
Whatever our role in each ephemeral human lifetime, may our instinctive tolerance and generosity help awaken us to our true common Self-identity; to Realization that we all are timeless LOVE, disguised as persons on the ‘world’s stage’, in a Divine play of Cosmic Consciousness.
Thereby may we live live ever happier and more fulfilling lives, as we realize that
“Love is the highest, the grandest, the most inspiring,the most sublime principle in creation.”
And thus may we
“Bless the Whole,as we play our rolein the cosmic theater of life”.
And so shall it be!
Ron Rattner
“When no one’s a “doer”nothing’s undone.”~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow.Let reality be reality.Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ~ Lao-Tzu
“Tao is now,Tao is one,Tao is doer,Tao will be done.Tao will be done,So let Tao do it.”~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
“Tao and Zenare NOW,not then.”~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
“What has been is what will be,and what has been doneis what will be done,and there is nothing new under the sun.”~ Ecclesiastes 1:9
Sutras, Rhymes, and Quotes about “Nothing”
Ron’s Introduction to Sutras, Rhymes, and Quotes about “Nothing”
Dear Friends,
I’m gratefully beginning my 90th New Year happier than ever before in this precious human lifetime, with something I’ve always wanted – “Nothing”.
So with this posting I’ve decided to share with you Sutras, Rhymes, and Quotes about “Nothing”, hoping they’ll help you to also enjoy such heart-felt happiness, and Divine peace of mind that passes understanding.
Before and since launching the SillySutras website I’ve often enjoyed, and sometimes composed epigrammatic and enigmatic sutras, rhymes and quotes about the idea of “nothing”, which leave their interpretation to the reader or listener.
For example, I’ve valued the pithy non-duality teachings of the Taoist and Zen Buddhist non-duality spiritual traditions. Those teachings inspired my composition of the following “Nothings” verses during my ten year post-retirement reclusive period.
For our heart-felt happiness, I’ve posted above and hereafter some of my favorite Sutras, Rhymes, and Quotes about “Nothing”. May they help us enjoy a supremely HAPPY NOTHINGS NEW YEAR!!
Nothings
Nothing is old,if nothing is new.Nothing is false,if nothing is true.Nothing’s undone,if there’s nothing to do.
Ron’s audio recitation of “Nothings”
Sutras, Rhymes, and Quotes about “Nothing”
THINKING MAKES IT SO“There is nothing either good or bad,but thinking makes it so.”~ Shakespeare – Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2Nothing is falseAnd nothing is trueNothing is oldAnd nothing is new’But thinking makes it so.NOTHING IS NEW“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done,and there is nothing new under the sun.”~ Ecclesiastes 1:9Everything’s NOW,so nothing’s new.Discovering is but uncoveringtimeless Truth –ever NOW!MUCH ADO ABOUT “NOTHING”Essence of everyoneis no-one.Essence of everythingis nothing.So when anyone’s disturbedabout anything,it’s much ado about nothing.REALITY IS NEVER NOTHINGIn this world of permanent impermanence,Nothing is really ‘real’.Everything’s only ego-mind illusion;It’s maya or samsara,Like a mental mirage.But for Buddhists, beyond maya or samsaraUltimate Reality is never nothingIt’s only ever imminent EMPTINESS. DOINGWhen no one’s a “doer”,nothing’s undone.UNDOINGThere’s nothing to dobut undo,until we’re through and undone.Then, when nothing’s undonethere’s nothing to do,but to BE –free andONE!THE WHOLE TRUTH “Nothing exists except the Self. ….I know that I am the Self, whose nature is eternal joy.I see nothing, I hear nothing, I know nothing that is separate from me.”~ Adi Shankara – Crest-Jewel of DiscriminationWe’re whole,we’re whole,we’re whole!Nothing evercan dissever our soul.SURRENDER, FORGIVE, LET GO We have nothing to surrenderbut the idea thatwe’re someone,with somethingto surrender.We have nothing to forgivebut the idea thatwe’re someone,with somethingto forgive.We have nothing to let gobut the idea thatwe’re someone,with somethingto let go.The more we know we’re no one,the more we’re seen as someone.THERE’S NOTHING TO SAYThere’s nothing to say,but words point the way.So, elevate your spiritual“lexi-consciousness.”WE’VE NOTHING TO FEAR “The only thing we have to fear is…fear itself.”~ Franklin D. RooseveltWe’ve nothing to fear but fright;fright which hides our light.But just beyond our darkest frightshines our brightest light –the light of Eternal Life;the light of of timeless LOVE.NOTHING IS IMMUTABLEIn this ever-changing space/time worldnothing is immutable,but much is ever inscrutable –Divine Mystery.WE’VE NOTHING MORE TO BEIn silence sweetwe shall meetthe thrill of ecstasy.and thus we’ll learn in perfect peacewe’ve nothing more to be.NOTHING IS CERTAIN“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert EinsteinNothing is certain but uncertainty.Everything is possiblewhen nothing is inevitable.THERE’S NOTHING TO DOThere’s nothing to do,nothing to say,or nothing to know;but just to let go,and ‘go with the flow’.~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Invocation
May the above New Year’s “Nothings”Rekindle our ever expanding realizationof THAT timeless Truth beyond words,to which they point but cannot say –That all that is, was, or ever can BEis the Eternal Light of Divine Love – NOW!‘Til then, may we enjoy a supremelyHAPPY NOTHINGS NEW YEAR!!
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
“Be empty of worrying, Think of Who Created Thought! Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?” ~ Rumi “True freedom and the end of suffering is living in such a way as if you had completely chosen whatever you feel or experience at this moment. This inner alignment with…
“May we live in harmless harmony, and keep in cosmic synchrony, as we play in Nature’s symphony.” ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings Ron’s Introduction to “Harmonic Resonation” and “Harmonic Coalescence” Dear Friends, “Harmonic Resonation” and “Harmonic Coalescence” are poetic sutra-sayings composed long ago about the crucial importance of living harmoniously with each other and Nature.…
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” ~ Dr. Seuss “The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter…
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” ~ Buddha “A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi “Nothing’s either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” ~ William Shakespeare “This world is…
“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” ~ Lao Tzu “The mind is a bundle of thoughts. The thoughts arise because there is the thinker. The thinker is the ego. The ego and the mind are the same. The ego is the root-thought from which all other thoughts…
“You should love everyone because God dwells in all beings.” “Have love for everyone, no one is other than you.” ~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa “One day, it was suddenly revealed to me that everything is pure spirit.” ~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa “I have now come to a stage of realization in which I see that…
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players” ~ William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII May we bless the whole as we play our role in the cosmic theater of life. ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings “You are awareness, disguised as a person.” ~ Eckhart Tolle,…
“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” ~ Soren Kierkegaard Ron’s Introduction to “Problems” Dear Friends, This posting asks whether we can ever be problem-free. And it affirmatively answers that question (philosophically and pragmatically) with quotations, poetic verses, and comments defining “problems” as purely mental and explaining why…
“Space and time are not conditions in which we live, they are modes in which we think.” “The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” ~ Albert Einstein A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes…
“Karma is a cosmic incentive system.” ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings “The Book of Life is a karmic comic book.” ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings “Every action, every thought, reaps its own corresponding rewards. Human suffering is not a sign of God’s, or Nature’s, anger with mankind. It is a sign, rather, of man’s ignorance…
“In order to know through experience what happens beyond death, you must go deep within yourself. In meditation, the truth will come to you.” ~ Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas “It is in love that we are made; in love we disappear.” ~ Leonard Cohen “It is in dying to ego life, that we are reborn to…
“I consider myself a Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, and Confucian.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi “I have learned so much from God That I can no longer call myself a Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew” ~ Hafiz “Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi or Zen. Not any religion,…
“The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity.” ~ Albert Einstein “You are “gods”;…
“The essence of all wisdom is to know the answers to ‘who am I?’ and ‘what will become of me?’ on the Day of Judgment.” ~ Rumi “Give up all questions except one: “Who am I?” After all, the only fact you are sure of is that you are. The “I am” is certain. The…
“The mind is a bundle of thoughts. The thoughts arise because there is the thinker. The thinker is the ego. The ego, if sought, will automatically vanish. The ego and the mind are the same. The ego is the root-thought from which all other thoughts arise.” ~ Sri Ramana Maharshi “Ego is the biggest enemy…
“Ego is the biggest enemy of humans.” ~ Rig Veda
“Free of ego, living naturally, working virtuously, you become filled with inexhaustible vitality and are liberated forever from the cycle of death and rebirth.” ~ Lao Tzu
“In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you love? How deeply did you learn to let go?” ~ The Buddha
By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try, the world is beyond the winning. ~ Lao Tzu
“They are the chosen ones who have surrendered.” ~ Rumi
“Surrender is faith that the power of Love can accomplish anything, even when you cannot foresee the outcome.” ~ Deepak Chopra
Love is the sacrifice of will. If you cannot leave will behind You have no will at all. ~ Rumi
Q.* How much “ego” do you need? A.* Just enough so that you don’t step in front of a bus. ~ Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
We have nothing to surrender But the idea That we’re someone, With something To surrender. ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Introduction
Dear Friends,
In many prior postings I’ve explained that the greatest obstacle to our spiritual evolution is ego-mind, our “phantom self” misidentification with thoughts and labels, rather than with infinite Cosmic consciousness, our true immortal SELF. Ancient Rig Veda scripture says that “Ego is the biggest enemy of humans”. And (as suggested by Eckhart Tolle) I believe that transcending ego is the fundamental message of all spiritual teachings.
Therefore, as we are now experiencing exceptionally advantageous Aquarian age cosmic energies and auspicious astrological planetary alignments favorable to spiritual evolution, I am updating and republishing postings which can most help us benefit from that evolutionary energy.
Recently in “Words About Wishes” I’ve explained ego-mind’s futile pursuit of illusory and impermanent external pleasures and desires that can never give lasting happiness. So this posting discusses the most effective ‘antidotes’ to such futile pursuit of external pleasures and desires – viz. the letting go, surrender and thought-free acceptance of those egoic desires.
Surrender and Let Go of Ego writings include the above key quotations and the following large collection of recited sutra sayings, and my explanations about the critical importance of surrendering transcending ego.
May these writings help us, individually and as a global family, let go of ego to reveal and heal all sufferings from unfulfilled and futile ego-mind ideas and desires.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
Ron’s Sutra Sayings on Surrendering Ego.
We have nothing to surrender but the idea that we’re someone, with something to surrender.
Let’s let go and let life live us, as Love.
Let’s leave it to the Lone Arranger.
Let’s let go, and “go with the flow”. Being “in the flow” is thought-free, effortless, and focused
merging of intention, action, and awareness
as consciousness – consciously letting Life happen through you.
Tao is Now, Tao is One, Tao is Doer, Tao will be done.
Tao will be done. So let Tao do it.
Give your spiritual ‘power of attorney’ to God.
“Let go, and let God.” Unity Church maxim
Leave it to the Lone Arranger.
Ego Antidote: The root of all problems is I/me/mine. End it with antidote, Thy/Thee/Thine.
Ego: Use it to lose it!
Immolate ego in the fire of faith.
As ego goes consciousness grows until it Knows – Itself.
Ego is free to choose, but is never free. Self does not choose, but is ever free.
Our only choice is to accept or reject “what is”.
Acceptance is pleasure; rejection is suffering. Acceptance is freedom; rejection is bondage. Acceptance is NOW; rejection is then.
So, if choose you must, then with faith and trust, say “yes” to Life.
With radical trust we do as we must.
The more we trust the less we try.
Enter a state of enlightened amnesia:
Be now; forget then.
Remember God; forget the rest.
Forget who you think you are, to remember what you really are.
Ron’s audio recitation of Sutra Sayings- Surrender and Let Go of Ego
Ron’s explanation of sutra sayings about Surrender and Let Go of Ego
Dear Friends,
I consider of critical importance to our spiritual evolution the surrendering and transcending of our false separate self/identity with our thoughts – our ego.
In “The Power of Now” Eckhart Tolle explains and defines “ego” as a “phantom self” and teaches that transcending ego is of universally pre-eminent importance, because as long as we are identified with our mind the ego runs our life. Therefore he suggests that transcending ego is the fundamental message of all spiritual teachings. He says that:
“In essence there is and always has been only one spiritual teaching, although it comes in many forms. . . . ~ Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now
I agree with Tolle and have composed many silly sutras about surrendering ego, including those published above. They are respectfully offered to remind us to follow our eternal inner guidance and always “go with the flow” for the benefit of others.
This message is particularly important in these extraordinarily turbulent times, which have disrupted and jeopardized earth-life as we’ve known it for billions of people worldwide. As many people are feeling inundated with threatening tidal waves in an endless ocean of samsara, it’s especially crucial for all of us to ‘surf’ those waves by ‘going with the flow’ rather than futilely emanating and emotionally ‘drowning’ with anger, anxiety, or fear.
By so letting life live us as Love, we can discover these challenging times to be an immense evolutionary opportunity for us to co-create not just a better “new normal” world, but a radically transformed world – with constant kindness and compassion for all life everywhere.
And so shall it be!
Ron Rattner
“All suffering is caused by human desire, particularly the desire that impermanent things be permanent. Human suffering can be ended by ending human desire.” ~ Buddha
“To have no wants is divine…. The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods.” ~ Socrates
“The power of unfulfilled desires is the root of all man’s slavery” ~ Sri Yukteswar (Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 43)
“The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.” ~ Epictetus
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~ Epicurus
Topping our wish list, is our wish to be wish-less. For ’til we stop wishing, we’ll ever be wanting. ~ Ron Rattner, Sutra Sayings
Introduction
Dear Friends,
We are now experiencing exceptionally advantageous Aquarian age cosmic energies and auspicious astrological planetary alignments favorable to spiritual evolution.
Accordingly this posting discusses a fundamental evolutionary obstacle: the ego’s futile pursuit of illusory and impermanent external pleasures and desires that can never give lasting happiness.
Most humans futilely try to hold on to relationships, health, circumstances, or things that cannot last. And this inevitably causes us karmic sorrow and suffering.
So the above quotations, and following sutra “Words About Wishes” and comments explain how futile ego desires for external pleasures unavoidably impede our evolution and cause karmic sorrow and suffering.
They are shared to help us as a global family attain “critical mass” for evolutionary ascension toward spiritual freedom.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner
Words About Wishes
Wishes and wants are mental projections to the future of remembered pleasures from the past.
Wishes are then, but Life is NOW.
Well-wishers sometimes sincerely say, “May all your fondest dreams and wishes come true.”
But, we’ll never have all we want, ’til we want just all we have. And – unfulfilled wishes can be Divine blessings.
So – topping our wish list, is our wish to be wish-less.
For ’til we stop wishing, we’ll ever be wanting.
Ron’s audio recitation of “Words About Wishes”
Ron’s explanation and dedication of “Words About Wishes”
Dear Friends,
The foregoing quotes and whimsical sutra verses concern a spiritually crucial subject – our futile mental desires or wishes as root impediments to spiritual evolution.
Buddhist philosophy’s primary purpose is to help end human suffering. Gautama Buddha taught that humans suffer because we mentally strive for illusory and impermanent pleasures that cannot give lasting happiness. We futilely try to hold on to relationships, health, circumstances, or things that cannot last. And this causes sorrow and suffering.
According to Buddhist teachings we suffer from ignorance (avidyâ) of our true self-identity, and from our consequent mistaken thoughts, words and deeds.
Suffering ends when ignorance ends. Ignorance ends gradually with experiential Self knowledge that we are Infinite Potentiality beyond conception, rather than merely mortal and limited persons.
Thus the Dalai Lama explains that
“In Buddhism, ignorance as the root cause of suffering refers to a fundamental misperception of the true nature of the self and all phenomena.”
Unfulfilled desire is similarly discussed in Paramahansa Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi,” Chapter 43, The Resurrection of Sri Yukteswar. Therein Yogananda recounts an amazing astral visitation by his departed spiritual master Sri Yukteswar, who declares with detailed explanations that: “The power of unfulfilled desires is the root of all man’s slavery.”
According to Sri Yukteswar even very subtle or unconscious desires of highly evolved beings can keep them from Being Infinite.
Also an amazing near death experience consistent with Sri Yukteswar’s teaching was recounted by my beloved Guruji, Sri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas:
During a terrible Gujarati draught and famine, in 1971 Guruji became extremely sick and exhausted from selflessly helping people and animals. Guruji’s physical body died, and his soul traveled to the heavenly domain of his “Ishta-Devata” Lord Rama – the principal Divine form of his devotional practices. Though Guruji wished to remain forever in Rama’s indescribably loving Presence, he was told that he would have to return to his Earthly body because of his unfulfilled desires to help people, whose images were then shown to Guruji. Rama told him:
“So long as there are any desires in your mind, … you must return to fulfill those desires.”
Thus various spiritual traditions have recognized enlightened beings – like Buddhist Bodhisattvas – who compassionately forgo spiritual Freedom, or nirvana, or the kingdom of heaven, in order to help others who suffer from unfulfilled ego desires.
Dedication
May the above “Words About Wishes” help us, individually and as global family, reveal and heal all sufferings from our unfulfilled and futile ego-mind desires.
And so may it be!
Ron Rattner