VIDEO REWIND: Confusion After Your Nondual Awakening (Answer to a Question from the Field)
Subject: Self Inquiry
Message Body:
Dear Fred,
I have now purchased and continue to work through 4 of your books – they are wonderful and I appreciate how they have reached me and taken me further than the hundreds of books, teachings workshops, etc. that have strewn my path these past 30 years.
My question relates to self inquiry. And not the obvious self inquiry, but that which relates to Cathryn-ness and Fredness – when I have identified with the mind and am believing its thought/s. You have spoken of using Byron Katie’s work combined with that of other teachers over a number of years in your own self inquiry. I am familiar with Byron Katie’s 4 questions, but wonder if you outline anywhere the technique you developed for yourself over time to use self inquiry on a day to day basis (My lover rejected me…..Is that true…..Who is thinking this???…)
Warm Regards,
Cathryn
Hi, Cathryn-ness! Thanks for writing. I talk about inquiry in any number of videos, but I can’t specifically point you to them, because I don’t know which ones they are. It’s my job to cut them–there’s no way I can actively curate them. So it’s your job to find the appropriate medications and apply them! [However, one of my alert friends, Mike Z. gave me enough of a hint to find one video from 2013 that might help. Possibly a lot!
Confusion After Your Nondual AwakeningÂ
Here’s a link to my YouTube channel. Just go down the list and look for titles you think might be relevant. In truth, every single one of them will be, because seeing through the illusion of Cathryn-ness–right now–is the very nature of our work.
My guess is that the book you’ve skipped is Beyond Recovery, because you don’t think you’re an addict. If my guess is correct, my suggestion is that you not skip it. Most addicts don’t think they are addicts; that’s the nature of addiction. But how about these thoughts you’re complaining about? Aren’t you addicted to believing them?
There are specific exercises and inquiries within Beyond Recovery that can help you begin to see through your addictions to thought and separation. It will also give you some background on this teaching. I’ve gotten a ton of positive emails about that book, and half or more were written by people who had no direct connection to any type of recovery. You have to recover from the dream of Cathryn.
I just don’t have time to go into any more detail. Satsang and/or sessions are where to go for specific detail. Good luck!
All love,
Fredness
July 19, 2017 @ 4:54 pm
No luck needed (Fred had a gambling problem too!). I have a funny now: my character bows to yours, hands in namaste pose, and says “Good f*g luck” (to your character managing its awakening, or any, expectations – which DOES require luck). I saw a new saying: Faith isn’t knowing things will turn out ok, it is being ok no matter how things turn out. And I’ll add, because You Are AOK!
And with at least some of that perspective, inquiry has then gone a long way. If anyone remembers what video(s) have Fred’s drawing of the scowling cloud, below the other ‘judgement’ clouds, so it is now ‘blocked by them from the sun’ to be the cause of its oscillation, let us know. That drawing has been a simple and humorous, easily retained aid for me.
July 19, 2017 @ 7:10 pm
Oh, great idea, Mike! That gave me enough of a jolt to remind me that “oscillation” was in the title. This video is four years old, so I’m still introducing myself, and the video quality is not wonderful, but I think the message is quite clear. 🙂 I’ll slip it into the post.