Symbols are forms that enable us to tap into the formless, they help us 'see' the invisible, access the inaccessible, make the intangible- tangible and the unknowable- known. They communicate richly …& directly to us… often to the subconscious…and are encoded to transfer their ‘data’/essence experientially rather than intellectually! Symbols work best in a receptive mode rather than in ‘trying’ to understand them;   Symbols work best when viewed/heard meditatively…so yes we pay them our full attention, but lightly not seeking so much ‘to understand’ nor grappling with questions, but allowing the images/symbolic words to flit across the still surface of our pool of consciousness… and in that allowing their ‘light’ settle somewhere deep within…

A true teacher is akin a Bodhisattva-their very purpose to be is in their ultimate 'redundancy’. Bodhisattva = one who's oriented towards/on the path to awakening, single pointedly motivated (thus 'destined') towards enlightenment-not only for 'self' but for everyone! Traditionally one who remains on the precipice of 'dissolution' by offering to be a bridge enabling every other ‘across’ & only when no one requires the bridge does it fold back into its dissolution. It is the bodhisattva vow, usually unknown/unconscious to a living bodhisattva.In the same way, a true teacher's work is to be that bridge, till everyone the teacher was an instrument to help, has got what they require. And thus the paradox that a bodhisattva and teacher’s very success is in their ultimate 'redundancy' …which being their very purpose to be is not seen in terms of being redundant as usually considered...but as a natural offspring of love and compassion..Traditionally a bodhisattva is conceived as someone having renounced the 'ultimate state' out of pure compassion …and historically therefore refers to someone en route; or an enlightened being who keeps returning in various modes to enable other ‘selves…or the state of Buddha (and others like ‘Him’) prior to their enlightenment)

This is the wonder of Existence, that every aspect of Its consciousness charts its own inimitable journey back ‘home’! Yes we have beloved masters, sacred texts/ poems & those who have already traveled along the path ( & their wondrous practices teachings experiences)  to help, enable, encourage & motivate us- but like we all have a unique fingerprint, we all have a unique path home!Each one shares what works/worked for them, but it is for each one of us to add to that living torch, a meaning, a quality that is uniquely our own! Only Consciousness could come up with this master plan-one journey, one exploration, one destination   yet each one individual special & unique! There is no singular ‘best’ way towards awakening/enlightenment. There is no must do path, practice, step, teaching that is mandatory as a prelude to Self realization. Sometimes we get sidetracked by insisting this is ‘best’ or ‘only way’ or a ‘must do even if you do nothing else”…because something (path/practice/understanding) worked for us!  We think what worked for us will naturally work for ‘others’! The intentions are good. But truly truly…as we establish in our awakening/awareness…we realize there is no one way, nothing that is mandatory, that each one charts their own awakening-this is indeed the coup de tat/master plan  of existence… each one enables and yet each one creates afresh!

Sacred texts, symbols & words of Masters are energetically alive- they are consciousness encased in seeming words & thus they energetically permeate you beyond the ‘words’. More so they are encoded in ways that their multi layered interpretation will arise according to the consciousness of the ‘receiver'. Based on your 'cup of consciousness’ will you receive from them what’s right for that cup! However this works for human consciousness as a whole too. Just as each ones cup deepens and the same ‘words’ unravel forth infinitely, in the same manner  as  human consciousness itself evolves, the 'same' texts/symbols/words unravel forth in infinite ways. Thus do seemingly ‘newer/fresher’ interpretations arise (from within) in different ‘era’s - because the texts have the entire gamut encoded into them already- from the sublime to the simplest! From the more ‘modern’ to the traditional!  It’s our consciousness which taps into them in reverse - from the simpler to the more sublime; from the traditional to the seemingly modern! The move to ‘newer/fresher’ interpretations does not make the ‘older/traditional’ interpretations, wrong or redundant- for they were required for the consciousness of its time; yet newer interpretations are not to be rejected based on the earlier! If we take this deeper, an era/human consciousness is a critical mass ‘measurement’ –but at any point, for example right now in 2010- some may require the earlier interpretation; some maybe ready for the ‘newer’ interpretation; some may actually usher in the required interpretations.(There are always some who resonate to higher than critical mass, like the seers thru whom the texts were written) ! Thus none is wrong –and each will get what they are ready for!

If some interpretation comes my way- its come for some reason- either to know ‘yes I understand its significance as a step along the continuum- and have moved on (rather than saying ‘oh there is only awareness and this is all redundant’.. if at all, it shows me my movement); or for me to resonate to it and establish at this point before I can go further; or for me to become open to something new…the next step so to say!

I always tell my fellow travelers to do the tango- to experientially (not intellectually) know where you are in the now and wholly embrace the ‘step’- and yet be open to the 'next' and 'next' … (which is first intellectual then as we move into it after experiencing what led to it does it become our experiential truth)… thereby catalyzing our consciousness… into higher/finer levels of beingness…into being more in sync with pure consciousness! Welcome to an Arabian nights story… experience...consciousness…!

A true teacher’s, facilitator’s, guide’s, guru’s unspoken commitment is to become redundant… by enabling one to reach the Self/the Guru within. Thereafter it is a journey of enjoying like minded expansion together; or reveling in The Self and Its Cosmic play together.’ We are each’ doing what 'we the One' need/enjoy through 'we the each’'! What better 'purpose' as existence could 'we the One' have come with! Bravo to ' we the One’ to conjure this ... and bravo to 'we the each' to fulfill and revel in it ;-)

Words are merely carriers, a tangible chalice so to say, offering to us the subtler energies contained within them. This 'energy' can be viewed in its different vibratory forms (finer to denser) as...light...awareness...knowledge…information! And indeed, this 'offering' is then partaken in individual ways, based on individual energies & encodements, triggering within each what we need in the now. This is why the same words do not convey the same information to all. This is why the same words offer us ever deepening views/eureka’s over time. That is why finite languages become infinite ways of communication .That is why a few words give us reams and reams of understanding /wisdom. That is why the same words become rich, diverse, unique, varied, in what they bring to each one…

The Word’ or in your modern parlance ‘communication’- is at its deepest a tool of oneness and union. Because it is ‘The Word’ (communication) that allows each individuation, even in separation, to know of their Oneness. It is ‘The Word’ that allows you even in your perceived separation to know of your inner union. It is ‘The Word’ that brings together the far flung spaces you occupy into the one path back home.

Words first help, then limit, then come in the way…till we finally use words to go beyond words.

Words belong to the mind, the mind arises in separation and thus words can only help us define the separation, understand the separation and then form a bridge out of it…but finally we must get off the bridge!

Indeed the paradox of language...when we label/describe/define what cannot be labeled/described we move away from it...! If i say something is intangible, the very defining of intangibility gives it a tangibility...! When i say... something is formless, I am giving it form! By saying it is description less, quality less, I’m giving it the quality of being quality less...or the description of being description less...!

Yet we require this because - our minds cannot grasp something without a form or labels or words or concepts -it is beyond the scope of the mind… (Indeed the minds very purpose to 'be' ...is...to define the ‘being ness’ so to say)! But to really enter… (I would say touch, but you cannot touch the intangible) so… to enter… ‘THAT’…wordless… we need to leave behind the mind and its words. Use words only as far as they can go. Use words to take you beyond them…like a bridge having served its purpose we get off the bridge...

Most of you over here are aware that words are merely a tangible chalice, so to say, bringing your way subtle energies, contained within their finer vibratory and light forms and what you then call “information.” This information, however, is partaken in individual ways, allowing it to trigger within you what you need, what you are encoded for. And that is why the same words so not convey the same information to all. That is why finite languages, become infinite ways of communication and information. That is why a few words give you reams and reams of wisdom. That is why the same words become rich, diverse, unique, varied, in what they bring to each one.

Analogy is a language of its own; helping us go beyond the literal words contained within it. This is also what any story and mythology is made up of… through tangible identification they bring to life the more intangible aspects!

Sound takes you unto silence... silence takes you unto the inner sound. Sounds- thoughts, concepts, words, questions, answers, texts, music - culls into inner silence; Silence - brings alive 'The Word' of inner wisdom and the cosmic chants. The mind drops off by itself once all its exploration is done...till then ‘dropping the mind’ remains a mind-concept! Silence occurs when the word has filled and pervaded you…till then silence remains …a word!

Surrender or homage can be to Guru God or Self… all three states are seemingly the same &yet each is a subtle shift into establishing as authentic Self. When nothing-not even our guru or god stands between Self-when there isn’t even a grain of sand in between-do we truly abide in Self. Ultimately abiding in Self is beyond devotion, gyan even love .Devotion to whom? Love implies another. And Gyan-knowledge of Self is still a hairs breadth from being Self! And yet as Self- a state of being  beyond duality & thus what we call contradictions- even though there is no other we view all as aspects of Self, and thus though one is beyond devotion love and gyan...they exist in relation to Self & all its reflections.

In homage to Guru Consciousness – to that aspect of Self- that remains intact within and around each of us as we enter the cosmic play. In homage to the many forms that Guru consciousness adopts -Guru’s, teachers, guides, books, movies, emails, maybe a butterfly or flower - anything that makes me turn within in awareness.; in homage to the witness, within.ss! In homage to the many unseen & unknown ways that guru consciousness works

It’s not you or me or a Facebook friend or guide or guru discussing/sharing  this that or the other … .for moment to moment it is consciousness that speaks to consciousness about consciousness! Indeed it is consciousness that hears and consciousness that responds as consciousness wills towards its beingness.And yet with this gnosis deep in our heart ....whilst we are in the game/play... we enjoy /appreciate the different avatars and characters that consciousness adopts… Its all the play of guru consciousness

Many consider devotion to be their allegiance towards their masters, gods, and perhaps higher-selves; but in its ‘purest’ expression, devotion is your ardor to ‘Be’…an allegiance towards your very purposes to BE. Towards those purposes that you, from Spirit for Spirit, Individuated towards.  And by your very ‘being’, through what you may call existences, you are expressing your complete devotion. If you understood this well, there would be nothing more to ‘add’ towards devotion. Your devotion is your enthusiasm towards being all that you have chose to ‘Be’ …do, feel, experience in what you call this life. In this joyous commitment to all that you are, now… you encompass masters and gods and indeed ‘serve’ them best. Feel free my dears, for devotion is not a narrow line of, ‘must be’, ‘must feel’, ‘must do’ towards some ‘higher ‘other’. It is being yourself…all that you consider or call good or bad….! Acknowledge accept and revel in all of self and you are expressing complete devotion…

Ramayana, Mahabharata and other legends and myths serve the sacred purpose of revealing hidden truths and tapping into ‘The Larger Picture’…. through the symbolic language of stories…! Stories, use day to day experiences in their telling and thus (like analogy) there exists a trodden path along which our minds an easily travel rather than dither about when confronted with in-experinceable and purely abstract concepts! More so, due to symbolism being the main language, it leaves the stories/epics open to the consciousness that interprets them... so that at each step of the journey, based on our understanding and requirements of the next step… the ‘stories’ have something more to impart to us; to tell us, helps us, enable us!

Imho there is no 'wrong' guru in the larger perspective; if we truly believe its all the play/will of consciousness then consciousness wills the gurus 'you' come across; maybe to understand that's not what its all about …or for some other reason unknown to you but for your larger good in the larger picture. Also if there is no one other than I and my world is my mirror- then so is my guru 0 and thus a so called wrong guru is all about 'me'...not the guru!

When gurus/masters reach silence- then they as Consciousness 'create' others to speak on their/Its behalf! Seemingly they- Consciousness create some like to express from 'the top'( no self, nothing has ever happened, thus nothing to be done etc) ..and some to speak from the 'basics/beginning' ( you are creator and can manifest a better life) ...and some to speak from different points along the continuum ( so we touch upon all aspects -based on where the seeker is)…. with all three doing what is required of them by consciousness and thus reaching those consciousness needs them to reach!
If we take this further...at some point...(in their larger journey) those who express from the top...will also go into silence...and those who speak from all points will move into speaking from the top...and those who speak from the (all imp)basics will extend into diff points along the way;-))

At its deepest Gurus are Guru Consciousness ... that aspect /gestalt of consciousness whose very purpose as an aspect of consciousness, is to keep all aspects of consciousness connected to the Whole…. through the game of seeming separation and ignorance. So that when Its units sojourn far and wide and seemingly forget Self...this guru aspect of consciousness, remains intact within them - as the mirror of their truth -or the way 'back' home! This guru consciousness  works formlessly with us through existence... and remains intact within us at our deepest core, always holding us  in its embrace ...and when it knows that a form is required...it takes the forms of Guru's ...known and unknown... visible and invisible ... guidance from somewhere, anywhere... texts... satsangs...eureka's even... are all guru consciousness at play. In brief: At its deepest all gurus are but aspects of Guru Consciousness –that aspect of Self- that remains intact within and around each of us as we enter the cosmic play and seemingly individuate. Guru consciousness works in through form and formless ways through known and unknown gurus...as life itself.