Leila: I’ve been thinking about my circumstances quite a bit. Let’s say I have approximately 10 years left of working in this job … To continue working in hard core dualistic psychotherapy breaks my heart if that is what is ahead for me. As I have mentioned in my previous email, in my opinion, a Psychologist can’t just start talking about non-dual concepts. It must be done with absolute integrity.
Sundari: Yes, I agree. I feel for you and cannot imagine doing what you do. But who says it will be 20 years? If religion or some kind of ‘spiritual path’ however dualistic does not help someone looking for answers, as limiting and limited as the psychology model is, it’s about the best on offer for samsaris. It has its place for those who do not have the qualifications for self-inquiry, and in clearing up some of the psychological detritus that comes with being ‘human’ in order to prepare the mind for the qualifications required for self-inquiry to develop, if they are going to. It’s all up to Isvara.
Leila: I don’t see myself as being a Vedanta Teacher and doing Satsangs. My audience is in the therapy room. I will need enough to be able to deliver the appropriate teachings with integrity to people who come to therapy with mental health and life problems. In some ways, I see a full non-dual therapy modality being designed based in traditional Vedanta.
Sundari: I agree with you on both points. There is a way to present the entry level nondual teachings in such a way that a broader range of people could benefit from them, at least karma yoga. Maybe even basic guna knowledge.
Leila: I can vaguely see the final picture but the process of getting there is not clear + my time capacity is poor at the moment as I have some pretty serious pressures that require total commitment to being well and on the job. Sometimes the idea of locking myself away for an entire year and devising this project seems like the only way to get the framework! I need a little shack next door to you and Ramji like my own 1-man University getting another degree!
Sundari: That would be so cool! Who knows. God works in mysterious ways.
Leila: I wondered if you could share with me about how one would begin the process of qualifying to be a teacher in the context that I wish to explore? This may start to give me an idea of what is possible for me given my circumstances.
Sundari: The place to start is exactly what you are doing right now – subjecting your mind to the teachings, following through on all the stages of self-inquiry with a burning desire for moksa. If it is meant to go further, it will.
Leila: I attended psychology training this week as we have to do a certain amount of professional development hours per year to maintain our registrations. I found it challenging listening to the information that appeared again to just keep people going around and around chasing their tails. I had a fantasy in the room of wishing so much that I had your level of knowledge to be able to challenge some of the ideas in a public forum – not to be a challenging person, rather, in a way to challenge the ideas of how limiting the theory was. I don’t yet have the confidence in the knowledge to be able to keep following the line of debate to the point where it all dissolves no matter what questions would come my way. Do you know what I mean? Anyways, I sat there and had my own quiet ridiculous debate about it
Sundari: What would help to challenge the prevailing consensus reality? None at all, most likely – especially in that field. It is best not to disturb the minds’ of the ignorant. If Isvara has you posted in the position you are in, and there is not much you can do right now to change your circumstances, karma yoga and titiksha are the only solution. Keep applying the teachings to the mind, keep discriminating, keep writing, keep inquiring. Pray.
You are correct that to be helpful as a conveyor of nondual knowledge you need qualifications, the full assimilation of the whole methodology, and the ability to wield the teachings correctly. But that does not mean that you cannot pass on the basics to those who may be ready for a bit more than the standard deal they get with therapy. Karma yoga in itself is a game changer. It all starts with objectifying the mind and managing its likes and dislikes.
The best solution now is to manage your mind, adjust your attitude, find some gratitude and see what you are doing as God’s work too. It may not provide you with the tools to free anyone from the prison of duality they are in, but all the same, see everyone who comes to you as sent by God, and as God. They are there, in front of you. Who else could they be? You are a child and an instrument of God, as is everyone. Do what you can in the spirit of humility and gratitude, forget about the results. Leave it all to God. Who are you to say what will or will not help, somewhere, somehow, down the line?
If or when the time comes for you to move away from your current posting, whether it is now or later, never fear. Isvara will make it known. Just keep that sankalpa going, ‘do the work’ and live the love you are, shine the light for others to begin to see the darkness is not real. We teach and learn as much by precept as by example.
Leila: I have been attending Ben’s classes online since I got back from Bali too which has been a nice supplementary opportunity to tune into your YouTube Channel and writings.
Sundari: Good for you. Ben is a good teacher. Have you completed the 1 year course we offer on our website? I still want to hold that online. One day it will be the right time.
I wish there was more I could say, but there is not.
With much love, always
Sundari
