Introduction

Starting around 1977, for years I would write a few things on what the light showed me during very quiet, sometimes intense moments of insight. A truth I learned from that was:  as the years went on, my understanding always seemed to leave the ideas presented in those writings behind. The writings held some truth in them; but always I could see they were deeply colored by my beliefs and opinions and were not really the insights the light had shown me. And yet, they were...for there, between the lines, perhaps on a pallet only I could see when reading them, was the raw paint of those beautiful treasures and, when I sensed the presence of the light there and the beauty it had shown me before, it was renewed and I would weep with joy. Thank you for stopping in to share in that.

Eventually, I found it was no longer necessary to sit in quiet to receive these insights from the light (which I later came to understand was meditation in its simplest form, which is how true meditation always is). They would come, day or night, sitting, fixing dinner or doing the dishes, driving down a crowded freeway...it really didn't seem to matter. After beginning to play online in early 1997 and to share some of my writings, I discovered that, if I would relax on deciding what to say next, the light could give me the insights at the rate of speed required to type them to the chat room screen. There, I would learn both by receiving insights and by typing them and reading them on the screen. Others would comment or not, some inquisitive, some very positive, some argumentative, some annoyed. And so, the forum I had hoped for years to find was right there before my eyes. I could simply listen and type, occasionally responding to the queries or comments of others. Although sometimes I would "copy and paste" or log these dissertations that ranged from preachy to poetic, usually I would just let them scroll up and off the screen buffer to be gone forever. Gradually, I saw that this "in the now moment" presentation would always be far better than any essay or book I might write. From over 30 years of listening and discovering, I have come to articulate certain things, and yet each time I speak of them it arises fresh and new, finds new words to express, opening my willingness to understand a tiny bit more each time.

Something I learned early and which has been emphasized over and over as important, is the fact that many of the keywords we tend to use as landmarks or "understanding identifiers" are completely misunderstood. These words are basically 180° from what is true because they have been colored by survival-oriented and "what I like"-oriented thinking. The most obvious result of this is that people in many schools of thought have come up with intricate concepts utilizing these keywords as building block concepts, and these concepts can never be accurate because the building blocks with which they were made and the understanding with which they were structured were faulty from the beginning.

To combat this, I assign somewhat specific meanings to specific words and, although that meaning may be expanded upon for clarity, other meanings are not also assigned that confuse the issue. However, it is good to note that these words have meanings already assigned by others to denote concepts. The problem with this multiple meaning convention is that people become confused and tend to generalize widely divergent concepts as meaning the same thing simply because they utilize the same words. There is a time to be specific and a time to generalize; but culturally, we have literally corrupted our language quite a lot. Actually, there is nothing wrong with the multi-meaning convention inasmuch as people correctly understand the meanings intended; but again, it has led to much confusion. Further, there is really nothing wrong with confusion if one understands that they are confused. The problem here is that people who believe solidly that they understand are actually confused without knowing it. So anyway, it is not important that the meaning I assign to words be adhered to always. It is just important to understand as clearly as possible what I mean and to not generalize what I am saying by linking other concepts that utilize the same words to the meanings I intended. It is not merely a semantics game and everyone is not just saying the same thing. If I thought for a moment that this was so, I would not bother to say any of it at all.

Through the meaning resulting from Simplistic Meditation given to various words, instead of several meanings for each of several words, you find that many words mean the same thing (love) and are simply a variety of ways of looking at and talking about that single reality.

These concepts for word usage, which I received for me, at my place in understanding, with my particular background, etc., were given specifically for me and yet, are quite shareable with others. Although the concepts I received have much meaning for me, more important is the manner in which I received these things. It is simple and, eventually, it leaves nothing to doubt and nothing to chance. A FEW EXAMPLES OF TERMS

The world has been in possession of meditation techniques for millennia and many have followed these rigorous routines with great devotion and success. However, there are problems with them. They are often complicated and cumbersome, they often take much of one's time each day and they are sometimes intended to take more than a lifetime to accomplish their goals. This brings the whole thing to a point where one wonders: "If I am ignorant of many things from myself to others to God, how am I to know who to believe and that I am asking the right questions, seeking the right goals and so forth?" Failure to adequately answer this question has left many people feeling quite overwhelmed with literally billions of facts, concepts, notions, dogmas and other high-sounding processes of development. Answering this question with one of these techniques, however, has led many people to lives of great, painstaking sacrifice, celibacy, missionary work and so forth. Of these, many have found this to be too much to ask and they have tired of the unending and seemingly failing task and have quit altogether. However, many have found fulfilling lives and some degree of enlightenment.

It is worthwhile to consider that there could be a simpler and less stressful way to find fulfillment and enlightenment that takes less time and is more direct. Such a way, instead of relying heavily upon mentors and masters and millennia of writings believed to have been proven, involves more self-reliance and thereby generates a higher degree of self-empowerment. After all, understanding of the self and its relationship to everything and empowerment of that self within that understanding is, in fact, the whole purpose of such an endeavor anyway.

The main ingredient of Simplistic Meditation is utilizing one's intention or free will to proffer one's attention directly to source through the medium universally provided. Simplistic Meditation asks one to pay attention...nothing more.

Since anything one does not know (and yet senses they need to know) is, in fact, something that is not known (in the context of knowing they are accustomed to), it emerges as clear that the person meditating not only does not know the answer sought, but in that understanding, it is also clear that they do not know what questions to ask, what to seek, nor even if there is anything to seek at all.

Because of that fact, although it is fine to ask questions of Spirit, be aware that always filling one's mind with arbitrary questions leaves less attention to see what Spirit is showing you. One need not ask for anything nor ask to see or know anything. Instead, in order to allow the fullest effect, one simply pays attention as wholly as possible.

One may be tempted to ask, "What am I waiting to see, hear or experience?" Some may see visions; some may see what they later believe is evidence appearing in their lives; some may hear a voice; and many may see, hear or experience nothing at all. It is important to realize that what is happening to a person as a result of Simplistic Meditation is happening outside of time, and anything seen, heard or experienced is NOT the main thing, regardless of what may appear. The main thing is that they are paying attention to source and this use of their attention is clearing away their blocks to understanding (which may or may not produce discernible sights, sounds or experiences for quite some time). It is better not to look "for" anything; but, instead, to simply pay attention.

Of course, the question must arise wherein one wonders, "Just what is source?" That will become clear only through continuing the meditation regularly. We are accustomed to intellectual understanding and that is limited by our inner structure of thoughts, concepts and beliefs; all of which are founded upon faulty keywords or faulty underlying key foundational concepts. Paying attention to source begins to clear the understanding and to gradually eradicate the faulty underlying key foundational concepts and, with those concepts realigned more closely to what is so, the mind automatically functions to understand at a renewed level that reaches beyond the intellect and beyond the arbitrary process of structuring concepts and deciding upon beliefs, followed by our misdirecting of our lives.

How to Meditate

Metaphorically, there is a place within you at which you reside in each moment. Every moment of your life you have always been "here" and the moment has always been "now." Somehow, through a means you do not know, you are alive. Through no particular conscious effort on your part, life seems to flow to you and make you to live and to be aware. As a model to give this a frame of reference, envision this as a light that shines to you from all directions at the same time. Notice this omnipresent light shining to you and place your attention upon it. Since this "light" is everywhere, placing your attention on it is not "focus"...for focus narrows vision, whereas this reopens and broadens vision. No deep concentration of energy or trying to sense anything in particular is required; in fact, these are contraindicated, as they tend to block awareness rather than discover what it would show. Then envision that the result of your paying attention is that life's light flows on through you and directly back to its source in a sort of continuous reciprocation or sharing. Remember that envisioning this two-way light is not necessary; it is simply a model to lend a frame of reference to what you are doing when in Simplistic Meditation.

As a precaution to save you needless time and effort, I would mention here that this simplistic, pure meditation is the only real meditation. Techniques for meditation abound, of course...I do not recommend using them. This meditation is said to be the only real meditation because it meditates only upon that which is real. It does not meditate upon ideas and concepts. It does not meditate upon breathing or the body. It does not meditate to effect changes in the apparent world, nor yet in "spiritual progression." All of these things are temporary and thus "unreal." Although simplistic meditation does not focus on any object or goal, people often discover desired changes arising in their life situation as they continue meditating on that which is real and substantial. You ARE real, and you are not limited to the separate individual bodily expression you are accustomed to identifying with. You are in fact omnipresent throughout all existence. It is not necessary to buy into that idea, for meditating upon the reality that you are absolutely makes you more and more aware of its (your) presence, and from that awareness, understanding arises rather automatically. If you then discover this to be true, that will be time to play with that idea. Note that ideas "about" your reality are not the reality itself. Similarly, insights that come, shifting the belief system and view, are not a body of intellectual knowledge but just the impact of awareness on the belief system entertained in mind. True, whole knowledge as omniscience is actually integral to what you are as the omnipresent reality of all. Again, no buy-in is required.

"The Silence" does not mean peaceful, quiet environment, and placing oneself in a peaceful, quiet environment is not requisite to effective simplistic meditation. It is called the silence because it (your reality) exists outside of the illusion of time, and in that reality, sound is not possible. In religious teachings, this is suggested by the idea or teaching that the name of God cannot be spoken and the idea of secret teachings. Indeed your real name, God's name if you will, is your reality (or God's reality) itself...and specifically is not a symbol such as a spoken word. "Secret teachings" when the term is properly understood, indicates that which cannot be taught, because it is not intellectual learning, but discovery and understanding found in awareness through meditation upon reality. As you meditate simplistically, your thoughts will flow in and talk in your head as they always have. It is not necessary to forcefully stop the mind chatter; however, you can simply tell your thoughts that you "prefer" to not entertain them right now and that your intention is to pay attention to source. Your mind, habitually a chatterer, will begin to form new habits and will learn to quiet itself. You will notice that, when thoughts do occur, the nature of the thoughts will gradually become clearer and more meaningful, perhaps even seem to be enlightening. Pay attention to the thoughts that arise for a moment and follow them through their sequential conceptualizations if they seem worthwhile. You might even want to write down some of the more interesting ones. Then just let them fade as you return your attention to source as your reality.

You may wonder how long you are required to do this. There is no specific time period. However, I suggest that you keep it short at first, even just five minutes, once or twice a day. That way you won't burn out on it. After a while, you may notice your sessions automatically become longer because you find yourself experiencing thoughts and feelings that add "interest" to your attention and you want to stay to enjoy this part of your life. At any rate, don't worry about it. The main thing is to pay attention and to pay attention regularly. Understand that this attention is having its effect on your awareness and understanding when you don't seem to notice anything different or unusual just as much as when you do notice something.

One man, who thought this was totally worthless (after I told him about it in response to his inquiry about how to be freed), because of his trust in me, tried it for about thirty minutes a day for two weeks. This man had been incarcerated for eleven to twelve years with a potential to be locked up for life. Prior to trying it, he was very angry and cynical, often starting fights, etc. After this short endeavor, he said he just felt too silly to continue. However, his attitude began to change and about three years later, he had changed significantly enough that he was released. Important to note that this worked to change both his inner and outer life and circumstance. Even more important to note that his "not believing in it" did not prevent it from doing what paying attention to source always does.

Source (peace), which arises into this world as a medium (love) which I call Spirit, the light and other names, arrives (figuratively) at the door of our awareness as a gentle living presence that provides for us whether we see it clearly or not, whether we believe in it or not ...ALWAYS... and this is particularly noticeable when we are willing to pause and pay attention. Beyond that basic truth, Spirit can and will actually teach you what you need to know as you need it according to your willingness to listen and hear it. It is entirely up to you to decide what to do with the understanding you receive and there is neither reward nor reprisal beyond the natural results of your placing your attention where it belongs...upon reality. However, the nature of true understanding is that one is gradually drawn toward following what is shown. This is because following what the light shows is exactly the same as embracing the only unconditional love to be found anywhere and learning to realize oneness with it. For me, the unconditional love of Spirit was that it was there to teach me whenever I was ready to pay attention, without any condemnation and without any pressure to do or not do anything. That created my first experience of awe (whole gratefulness or returning unconditional love by seeing Spirit as it actually is). NOTE: The terms Source, Spirit, the light, etc. as used here are all synonyms indicating intuition of the reality which need not be labeled by these terms.

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