Eight Steps to Self Realization, by Shree

	If you are like me, or most people who journey onto the path of Self-Realization, you want to know how to be free from the problems and difficulties that you find as a human being on earth. Maybe you have studied many different psychological theories, spiritual teachings, methods and techniques but you want to find the most efficacious and clear way to realize That which is the truth of your own Being, to fulfill the purpose of your life. There are so many books, scriptures, masters, teachers, disciplines, and systems of enlightenment, so you may feel overwhelmed with information and ideas. You just want to find a clear-cut, easy-to-follow system that takes the minimum amount of time and effort and brings about the maximum results. We all want to experience freedom from pain, fear, agitation, anxiety, worry and doubt. To be relaxed, peaceful, loving and easy you have to start from where you are: a human being with a body, a mind, senses and all the conditions, concept and beliefs that have been developed from a lifetime of practice and repetition. When you were born as a baby, before your mind developed and filled with so many thoughts and conditions, you were naturally blissful. We all love to look at a newborn baby or little toddler. We see the pure bliss bubble that they are and the unobstructed light in their eyes. From observing the inherent bliss of a baby, we can see that as soon as the mind develops problems begin along with the thoughts in the mind. Through our thinking process we can now analyze that in deep sleep there are no problems, worries or concerns. The problems on the level of the body and mind only arise in the waking state of consciousness. The human mind has to develop so that he or she can interact and function in the world. However, this very development of the human mind can also limit his or her happiness and fulfillment in life, unless the mind is purified through meditation and highest knowledge. As human beings we can be victims to the human condition, subject to the functioning of a body, mind and senses. The body, being a bundle of nerves, blood, organs, bones, skin and senses, has a physiological functioning that is often not in our direct, voluntary control. We have to admit that we are not the sole doer. There is another force or power that is moving our body and mind and from that unseen power all the movement occurs. The knowledge of the systems of meditation gives you the solution to all your human difficulties. All suffering has one and only one cause. And when you know that cause is ignorance of the true Self then you can know the solution. Through the study and practice of meditation you become aware that as long as you are starting from the idea that you are a human being, limited to your body and mind, you will remain ignorant of the true Self. Then all the problems mentioned above will have to occur. Just like the eyes are made to see, the ears are made to hear, the human system is made to enjoy and to suffer; to experience pain and pleasure and to react to various different stimuli in order to fulfill all of the human desires.  First you need food and shelter in order to take care of the physical system. And when those physical desires are fulfilled then mental desires come about, experienced by a craving from the physiological system, so that you can have more comfort, ease and happiness for your mind and body. The human being keeps striving for more and more, bigger and better, as there is a sense of lack in the waking state with the unending desire to fulfill it. This mechanism is useful and productive. It keeps society advancing and creating more technological, ecological and economic advances. This mechanism only becomes a detriment when it's based on greed, jealousy, fear and self-aggrandizement. Then the mindset is based on getting individual needs and desires fulfilled by neglecting and destroying the environment and the lifestyle of others. Therefore, it is how one operates the mechanism that will lead to the highest vision with mutual support and appreciation of the whole. We need to have a human system to function in this world. The baby is born helpless, but grows into awareness and develops skills to function in the world. The physical system is used and the mind begins to think about how to get what it needs and wants. But you've discovered that this longing and discomfort in the human system does not end just by getting what you think you want and fulfilling your desires. There is always more wanting and desiring just around the corner. This is how the human system works. It is not your fault and you cannot change this functioning of the human system. But there is a tried and true path for you to follow, that will lead you out of all human suffering. The solution to this dilemma is not in the waking state. As long as you are in the waking state the system continues to act in the way that it was meant to function. Without higher awareness you are completely identified as being that human system, or mind and body. If you remain tagged or rooted only to your physical system, as a human being, you will continue to enjoy and suffer. The solution, then, is not to remain only a human being but to awaken to a higher state of consciousness. Since the cause of all suffering is ignorance of your true Self then the solution is knowledge of your true Self. Since you have to start from where you are, you accept that you have become a human being; that you are awake in the waking state. Then you can bring in the discrimination that you are the Knower of your mind and body and not limited to your thoughts and physiological suffering. Whenever the mind arises in the waking state, you need to have a method to bring your attention back to the Knower, to dissolve the mind into its source which is forever, free and blissful. This method is the practice of meditation, higher thinking and Self awareness. This system of the Eight Steps to Self-Realization, by Shree and the Eight Reflections on Meditation, by Brijendra have been specifically developed to allow you to remember the source or who you are as the pure, free and forever blissful being. To awaken you into higher consciousness. In this state of highest awareness you know the bliss of your true self is self-effulgent and not dependent on fulfilling your desires or on having any particular situation change. In any situation that you find yourself in, you can bring in this awareness and meditate on who you truly are. Your body continues to function and your life continues as it is, but you can remain in a state free from all the agitation and worry that is inevitable if you are living only in the waking state of consciousness. You don’t have to expect anything more of the waking state then what it is capable of providing but you know the way out. Most psychological therapies are limited as they are designed to make you feel more comfortable in the waking state or to reduce your stress, anxiety or depressions but they do not allow you to experience and know your own free state of being which is self-effulgent and not dependent on anyone or anything else. In Psychology this can be known as the transpersonal self, as it is beyond that which you consider your personal reality. However, it is not only transpersonal as it is a state of Oneness with the Whole so it includes it all. Knowing the Self, forever free that you are, is the solution state and answer to all of your concerns and difficulties. This is the Vision of Oneness; you become aware of yourself as One with the whole which is like the sky or Pure Consciousness. You need to make this shift to know the Oneness which is the true Knower and your true I. Then all the solutions will come to you from this higher state of consciousness as it is the very solution state. Again, if you are at all like me or like most people, you find that there is just too much to do. So adding anything more makes you feel defeated before you have even begun. That is why we developed the Eight Steps to Self-Realization and Eight Reflections on Meditation. You can apply these steps and reflections at any time during your day, regardless of what you are doing. They are strengthened when you take even a few moments in silent meditation or by just listening to the recordings. But they are also applicable to use whenever your mind brings you to a state of pain or suffering. After some time of listening to them they become a part of you, as they are you. Then it will become effortless to practice at anytime. Just like it is now effortless for you to know when someone calls your name, you know that is you. In the same way you will come to know the Knower as your true nature – pure, free and forever. These recordings can be listened to over and over again as then this knowledge will always remain with you. Everything we have learned has been learned through repetition. You learned your name so thoroughly, starting when your parents, siblings and then teachers called you by that name over and over again. Therefore, you already know how to learn who you are. From past repetition you learned that you are a name and a form and then later on you learned your qualifications. Now you need a new learning and this learning will be that you are Pure Consciousness, forever free and blissful. Listen to these podcast recordings and enjoy the space of who you already are. Live that in your daily life and remain fulfilled and free! Click Here to read more...