Previously Raymond wrote about his ten years as a monk in India. Then wrote books about spiritual matters with a foundation spiritual philosophy derived from ancient Indian writings. After leaving India in 1976 Raymond became a mental health professional, qualifying in 1980.

In the previous book Therapeutic Journey to Self-Realisation there was a focus on traditional Spirituality connected with some mental health perspectives. Some writing was about therapy involving depression, anxiety and addiction, etc., using the labels of mental health disorders. The preferred view was that mental health is inclusive in our Journey as a Waymarker on our route.It doesn’t define us, only advises where we are. (Mental health in its entirety is inseparable from life in its entirety).

Now only realisation and enlightenment are sought as this new book’s outcome. If we have a higher state of being both spiritual and live in the world, as both human and transcendental, then we are:

Practically Enlightened or Realistically Realised

In this book we meet Alex who contacted via the website, goddessmantra.guru to better follow his spiritual path with some advice about practice, Alex also was dealing with some long-standing issues – especially severe anxiety. However, we quickly established a weekly “chat” where we placed mental health into the context of the wider picture of real spiritual practice which transcends all of Life and the Universe.

In these blogs there will be transcripts of what we said followed by summaries, plus some comments.

Some of the transcripts have a note on who is the speaker. The summaries may also clarify who is speaking what.

(The summaries are AI generated)

N.B. Summaries relate to the complete conversation – the transcripts here may be split or partial, as the blogs are examples of what will be in the complete book – if it gets that far!

What is our view of spirituality?

R

Generally, Spirituality is seen a personal search for meaning, purpose, and a connection to something larger than oneself, whether that is a divine force, the universe, or a deeper sense of inner self. However here we often talk about: “Being Divine in a Divine World”. Or “I am That”. In Vedanta philosophy. Its: “Aham Brahma Asmi – I am Cosmic Consciousness. That’s a bit heretical from a few religious perspectives! However, this is about personal choice, growth, and a sense of connection to something infinite. It can involve personal journeys but essentially it transcends the body/mind or ego-based identity. Its highly personal and may or may not be associated with organized religion. 

There is focus on a True reality that is eternal and beyond “Life and The Universe” (My special term).

Hinduism has no traditional ecclesiastical order, no centralized religious authorities, no governing body, no prophets nor any binding holy book; Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, henotheistic, pantheistic, monotheistic, or atheistic. My personal ten years as a monk in India led to a preference for multiple options such as being polytheistic, henotheistic, pantheistic, monotheistic, or atheistic. Multi–faith also!

So, for me it’s about the journey towards Moksha or Nirvana, and the discovery of higher truths, Ultimate reality, and a consciousness connected to Cosmic Consciousness.

A

Why spirituality is not a priority for so many of humans especially of those who are in power to change the world?  Are we ready to make it this way or we need to have more suffering? 

The main purpose on this proposed book is to discuss and support why spirituality, enlightenment, self-realization should be our priority from a well-being perspective, on one hand; on the other hand, just to survive on the planet as a human race due to the potential conflicts between ego driven people in control.

Enlightenment is simply “no suffering” for not only an individual but also for people around or impacted by them.

There are problems due to fast past life and technology (AI), smart phones etc. Do we have to go back manufacturing brick size phones with buttons again or there is an alternative? Yes, there is a simple but not easy way to accomplish and use our minds instead of being used by them. So, you might start wondering now if your mind is using you too…

We discuss here some of the tools to get back in control of your mind, get centered, calm and clear, reduce pain, eliminate suffering etc. And get to feel who you actually ARE and find out what is your power and ability. We show you how to put your attention and hold anywhere you like – just enough to get your control back and change the object’s property i.e. eliminate/transcend suffering or even pain and become more resilient human being (instead of human doing) living in the present moment and enjoying the life as it unfolds moment by moment. Why not to step up above your thoughts – especially intrusive ones and stop feeling overwhelmed by using the power of your attention and self-realization? 

Besides, use of prescribed medication can only benefit better for healing mental health problems. if combined with spiritual or holistic approach (enlightenment).        

Moreover, you are already enlightened like everyone on this planet and just need to realize it or feel it. (No word can describe it), and here we point you to the right direction how to… Why not free yourself from mind “addiction” or dominance for not only yourself but also people under your control or around you?

This is a life-time journey, not a final destination! Enlightenment or freedom from mind dominance is an ongoing “process “, available to you right now with no end.

(Extract from next chapter)

Transcend Now

An Enlightenment – “how to”.

R

Previous discussion has centred on spirituality, emphasizing the challenge of overcoming the mind and ego through surrender and bodily awareness rather than mental effort. Highlighting the normalcy of negative mental patterns, with the need to transcend now.

So, what is the main challenge in dealing with the mind, according to the discussions?

The main challenge is that the mind has a mind of its own and cannot be controlled, changed, or challenged directly. One must step out of the mind and become another person almost, a divine being even, to transcend it. That though is ego death, considered difficult for most people.

Ego death is difficult because it involves an apparent intense mental pain – which seems to be terrifying for every human being. Nobody wants their ego to die, as perhaps it feels like a form of death, even though it is not physical death.

Otherwise, what about practical approaches for dealing with negative feelings and rumination? This is perhaps a necessary lead-up to this rather advanced spiritual surrender – the ego surrender.

An agreed approach, so far, is to accept the moment and the feelings, observe the mind without participation, and let the mind run its show. This observation usually slows down the “monkey mind”, and can lead to a natural state of awareness.

However, we are discussing something – more radical.

So, this particular chapter is titled “Transcend Now” and focuses on transcending the mind/body problem, by stopping running away from stress and pain, turning around to face it, relaxing, accepting, and practicing bodily awareness exercises.

What exercises then help with transcendence?

Three exercises are suggested:

1) Walking out the door metaphorically to leave behind the mind/body, and face the unknown;

2) Bringing stressful or painful memories into the body. Visualizing them inside a globe of light to carry them consciously;

3) Technique for paying attention to body energy and tension. Witnessing it without reaction to allow it to transform.

(Exercises to be explained in some detail later).

Discussion on the role of the body in spirituality.

A

The body could be described as smarter than the mind and essential in the process of transcendence. Spiritual practice must happen on the body level, not just mentally or verbally. By allowing the body to take its journey and following bodily sensations and energy.

R

What concerns are raised about surrender and following a spiritual leader or Guru?

A

There is concern about people fearing surrender because it might lead to losing their mind, body, or money, or being sucked into cults. The recommendation is to follow the heart and the light. (or mantra). rather than blindly following a person.

R

What is the purpose of including other people’s views on spirituality in the book?

A

Including other people’s views aims to provide practical perspectives, avoid repetition, and trigger readers to ask further questions and consider their own spiritual path, making the book more engaging and diverse.

R

What is the overall goal of the book as discussed?

A

The goal is to trigger change and spiritual inquiry in readers rather than only provide instructions or even guarantee outcomes. It aims to encourage readers to wonder, question, and possibly take the next step in their spiritual journey.

I think for the listener or reader, it would be important to get some practical views and practical previews of what works. When people say things theoretically, it’s a theory. But the practical thing, for example, I felt today I had a feeling of…What’s the word to describe it? Not sad but it was a feeling of worthlessness. Why wouldn’t I why wouldn’t I walk away from that place earlier and why would I wanted to actually dissemble all this negative stuff – all these negative feelings that come to mind?

R

That’s very normal. That’s what we all do. We all do that all the time. That’s how we live. That’s our lives. Normal stuff. We always do this rumination, catastrophizing, or thinking, overthinking, planning, fantasizing, desiring. It goes on and on. It’s just mind. It’s nothing but mind.

A

I tried to do something. I went to another place to do some drawing there and talking and counting, some distraction. I used the distraction as well. In fact, it didn’t work. No. Nothing worked.

R

The mind has a mind of its own and you can’t deal with it. You have to be another person.

You have to be a divine being in a divine world – not a mind in this planet. Sorry, can’t be done. You have to make that jump and decide to do so. And nobody wants to do that. It’s the death of the ego. Who wants the ego to die? Who wants to die? It’s about dying. It’s not about physically dying. It’s about ego dying. And that’s the most terrible thing for every single human being.

A

Nobody wants to do that. Nobody. What was shocking for me is to realize that nothing was said to me. I made that whole story in my mind. And my judgment was that I’m lying to myself. So, well, it’s acceptable. So, I accepted the moment. I accepted I’m lying to myself. I start feeling better. So, it’s not really that concerns me that I’m lying to myself, but the fact that stepping out of this rumination thing and watching it happen to me a few times. Now I say: Oh, good that’s where I want to be that’s. That’s what I want to be.

R

Jesus turned up at the beach and there were fishermen there. And he said, follow me. And they left their boats and their nets, everything. They left it all. And there was this man with a white robe and maybe he had shoes and maybe he didn’t. And he just said, come follow me. And they did. How insane is that? They just left everything like that. Boom.

Boats, the fishing – everything they just walked away from it. They followed him and they didn’t know who he really was. He had no money, no car, no email address. Possibly no books. He may not have seemed very erudite, but it didn’t matter. He just said follow me. Okay they did- boom, and that’s the craziness of this

Renunciation – you just let it go and you just walk away, and it’s not a mental thing you don’t plan it, and there’s no plan involved. Turning off the mind is the key. Just turn the key off.

Now, in Medjugorje in Croatia, people walked out up the mountain side – young kids. They saw the Holy Mother sitting there with a baby. And that became a place of pilgrimage, because they saw her like she was sitting in real flesh & blood. Now many years on they continue to communicate with her. And their life changed like that. Boom. It was like, I’m just a teenager, guy, girl, rebel, or whatever. And all of a sudden, their life changed. Totally out the window. And that’s what it’s about. Can’t do any other. You can’t challenge the mind much. You can’t change the mind much. You can’t control the mind. You can’t do anything with the mind regarding Enlightenment. It’s not possible. You have to have this place. You jump into it, into the pool. You dive off the cliff and disappear. And you’re dead – sort of.

Maybe not dead.

A

I disagree on changing the mind. Changing the mind is possible by observing it. Oh, yeah. By actually stepping out of the interaction. That’s good practice. It’s a possibility to really observe the mind. That’s good practice. It’s very good.

R

Letting it run the show, letting it play. When there is no participation to it, you just observe it. It will slow down. Let it run the show. Yeah. It’ll slow down, it can disappear, but then the seeds remain.

What I’m talking about is a leap into the unknown to become somebody else. I’m not saying you should do it or I should do it, as I’m just saying that’s what happens when these miracle events occur

The screen is parted and she/he walks through and there’s another planet out there – another dimension – a miracle world anyway

A

I was thinking about the same. Yeah, we’ve done it. We want to go through the veil to some other dimension. It’s radical. And that’s the next step. And how that would occur? Give me five minutes. Ten minutes. Ten years. Ten million years. What do you think of giving a practical example?

Like myself today. I face stress but nobody put on me stress. I just realized myself that I’m lying to myself. If you read the summaries of what we’ve got so far, I think there’s enough answers there. We have to go another dimension. We have to break through

R

Transcending it. Transcend how? Transcend now. Well, that’s the name of the chapter.

A

Yeah, that’s the way. We have to put something in there that’s challenging. I heard there was a storm in the desert. And buffaloes were running away from the storm. And only one buffalo turned around and ran through the storm. All of them died, except that buffalo. He felt the pain, but he’d gone through it.

It transcended the fear and the pain. The key is, in my view, the key is to stop running away. Okay, that’s something to start with. Stop running away. And the second stop, the second point, running away means distract yourself.

Unfortunately, this is not done on a mental level or verbal level. It has to be done on a body level. Okay. Meaning that it’s just so automatic.

Well, we know the ego is a barrier. I think there’s another barrier. We can’t let go because when things start to happen, we get sucked in straight away. Oh, no, this is bad. This is not good. I didn’t win this. I didn’t get that. It’s all bad. Yeah, life is bad. The moment mind starts racing, the moment, the only first moment, straight away the body needs to step in. Okay. That’s the key. Second step, stop with the body.

Think with the body. That’s it. Body is smarter than the mind. Think with the body. Oh, yes. Now, I’m getting there. I’m getting there. Semantic approach. I’m understanding that. I think that is true. I think that makes sense. The body is smarter than the mind. The body will say, I will follow this person, just follow the Jesus or the Buddha. We’re following. It’s just like, oh, the mind stopped. We just follow. Just do it.

No. But we want to practice this letting go and following the light. The light. It’s not a just a person. Om Guru Om mantra is about following the Teacher’s light.

What don’t you like about letting go and following the teacher? Are you worried about getting sucked into a cult? What is wrong about surrender that you’re scared of? Why is surrender so scary?

People might lose their mind. They’re afraid to lose it. They will lose their mind. Lose their mind, lose their body, and lose their money. Could lose anything. But you’re going to lose your mind, body and all your money anyway. When you die, everything will be gone. Hello?

I think it’s a good saying: Die before you die.

Sort of fine. Maybe fine. Who knows? There’s no guarantees. You know, the body that I have, it’s got depression and anxiety. And that’s taking a lot of energy of me. And you never got a guarantee about the body, mind, nobody? You can’t get your money back? We got this. human life with no guarantee and we accepted it as fine. How crazy is that? So, you use the word surrender. It’s a strong word. For some people it’s a weak word. But I’ve got it tattooed on my hand, surrender and respond.

It’s just like we need to do what we need to do and forget about the outcome. The outcome is not our business. Exactly. Enjoy the process. The process. We’re just doing the process and that’s all we’re doing. We’ve discussed something along the lines of what could be happening miraculously or maybe not.

Achieve a miracle. Maybe. I’m not seeking to achieve a miracle. We might fail completely and utterly, and that’s fine. It doesn’t matter because we’re trying. And that’s all that’s important. People would ask a simple question. Yeah, you’re saying we need to think with the body. How? How what? How to think with the body.

R

Just allow the body to take its journey. Sometimes you have to let the body do its journey forcibly. You walk out the door, whatever that door is. Sometimes people need to walk out some door that’s holding them back. And it could be a relationship, could be a job, could be a life situation. But the answer is to walk out the door.

And it’s very unpleasant because you don’t know where you’re going and you don’t know what you’ll get .and you don’t know how it’s going to pan out. And you can fantasize as much as you like, but that’s irrelevant. That’s not how it is. How it will work out .is how it will work out. And who knows? I don’t know. Nobody knows.

The reality of life is suffering and it’s a difficult situation. And the body mind is always in pain. And we seek to avoid that by whatever we do. Drugs, alcohol, phones, friends. The whole thing is painful. And the only way is to walk out the door.

I don’t know what will happen or who will be there or anything. There might be nothing. There might be just death and suffering, but I’m going to do it anyway. I’m just going to walk out the door and you do it as an exercise. You can visualize it. You can take your body and actually walk through a door somewhere into the garden or whatever, but you do it deliberately with mindfulness and you can do it with a mantra.

Om Guru Om. Take me to the light. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Peace, peace, peace. I’m not going to be anxious. I’m not going to be worried. I’m just going to relax. Om Guru Om. Hari Om.