WHEN THE OBSERVER OBSTRUCTS THE ILLUMINATION

(This article was written by Alsibar, who has studied spiritual guides extensively, and the original text in Portuguese can be read at this link.) 

In this dialogue I address new nuances and specific aspects about observation, the observer, and illumination.

Due to the complexity and depth of the topic, some readers may find it difficult to understand, making it more suitable for experienced seekers who have already progressed on their spiritual path. Read the dialogue to the end and draw your own conclusions!

--oOo--

Aramisio:  I've been reading a lot about the need to be present and observe everything that happens and everything that exists in the present. If the observer is the self/ego (and I know it is), then it seems it shouldn't observe, right?

Alsibar:  When you observe as "sadhana," a spiritual practice, who performs it and for what purpose? In other words: when you practice something, whatever it may be, including this observation of the present moment, why do you do it? What is your goal?

Aramisio:  The goal is always illumination.

Alsibar:  So... someone is looking for him, right? Who is that someone looking for him?

Aramisio:  Isn't that ego?

Alsibar:  That's right! It's the ego itself that seeks Enlightenment. But as long as the ego is in control, there will be no Enlightenment, you understand? In other words, the ego's search for Enlightenment is itself its own negation, its own impediment.

Aramisio:  But the ego does not seek spiritual improvement!

Alsibar:  Well... that's the problem: in this case, it's the ego that's searching, even if you don't think so. That's the root of the illusion. That's what prevents enlightenment. It's the ego that thinks, "I'm observing!" Or, "I'm paying attention!" If you perceive attention as "attention," then it's memory that recognizes the fact. And this recognition comes from the past, that is, from the ego.

Aramisio:  I understand... this is a complicated point. So, when I observe, am I strengthening my ego and moving further away from enlightenment?

Alsibar:  When you observe with the INTENTION of achieving something, you do create obstacles because you then create the time, the search, and the seeker. And what is a seeker if not the ego itself? But when you simply observe, not with the intention of reaching or achieving something, but just a simple, common, everyday observation... Like the one I'm doing now, observing the keys on my cell phone to type.

This observation is natural, you understand? It's not a state that's provoked, practiced, or produced with intention. This is the natural movement of life. You don't need to practice it because it happens naturally. It's the same when the ETERNAL manifests: you do nothing! It is "He" who does everything! You don't even notice when "He" comes. You only realize it after it's over.  

Aramisio:  Yes, I understand, you wrote an interesting article about this a few days ago.

Alsibar:  So, in that state of complete freedom, you suddenly look and see silence. But it's something natural. You don't do anything, nor do you intentionally try to see it. It's like an event, you know?

Aramisio:  That's true, especially because for a seeker, every practice has a spiritual purpose.

Alsibar:  That's right. And this supposed "spiritual ego" is strengthened by practice and the search. And then, instead of being freed, the aspirant becomes trapped, going around in circles.

Aramisio:  Through observation, as a practice, we eliminate our main objective, which is enlightenment.

Alsibar:  Enlightenment doesn't need focus. When you're not focused on anything, it will be there. Enlightenment is the ABSENCE OF SELF. If there is a "focus," then there is "someone" directing that focus. That "someone" directing attention to a focus is the ego itself.

Aramisio:  Therein lies another problem for me. Because how can I search without focus? (even if that search is a metaphor).

Alsibar:  Exactly, that's why you shouldn't search. If you "search," you recreate the "seeker." And by creating it, you become a prisoner of the ego and of time.

Aramisio:  So we can't be seekers?

Alsibar:  Not in that sense. What is there to look for if the very act of looking negates the objective?

Aramisio:  So all I need to do is Be?

Alsibar:  No. You already are! You don't "need to be." When you don't feel like you have to be anything, that's when you are!

Aramisio:  Yes, I know, but I need to be aware of that.

Alsibar:  No. That's another mistake. Another deception. It's the ego that says that. It's the ego that tells itself, "I must become conscious!" And the result? Spiritual pride!

Aramisio:  So I don't know what to do anymore, hahaha.

Alsibar:  Nothing! Just live and be happy! And you will see the light shine naturally within you. The light of peace, of love, of silence, of stillness.

Aramisio:  But if I don't do anything as you say, what will be left? Won't it be the ego?

Alsibar:  The ego is the very act of "doing." It feeds on "doing." When you do nothing, the ego is temporarily neutralized. When the ego is neutralized, what happens?

Aramisio:  Theoretically nothing, but the ego will dominate.

Alsibar:  The ego already dominates. The ego is darkness (ignorance). If you neutralize the darkness, light emerges. That's what you haven't realized yet: if the ego practices, seeks, directs the focus, for example, it's in control.

Aramisio:  That's fine, but if we don't do good, won't evil prevail?

Alsibar:  That's another topic. Regarding doing good... Let's see: doing good with heaven in mind, or in pursuit of any reward, is not good. But when the power of the ego is neutralized, good begins to flow naturally. If you do good thinking of heaven, you are being selfish. The ego doesn't know what good is or what love is. But when, through understanding, the ego is neutralized, love flows spontaneously, like breathing.

Aramisio:  In Christianity we are taught, and so I did for many years, to seek good and avoid evil.

Alsibar:  How do you seek good? Through the ego? Then it's not good. Love doesn't arise while evil (the ego) is in control.

Aramisio:  Yes, that's not entirely correct.

Alsibar:  But when the ego disappears... then love fills your being. Not just love, but peace and wisdom. Because love without wisdom becomes recklessness. Love and wisdom must be in balance.

Aramisio:  Well, yes, but for me the problem is how to take ego out of the equation.

Alsibar:  I already told you. Try it. Just surrender and everything will start to happen naturally. Without you even realizing it.

Aramisio:  Then there should be no struggle, no search, no expectation.

Alsibar:  Exactly, simply surrender and trust. Self-abandonment. Let's take an example we know well. What was Jesus practicing when he attained enlightenment?

Aramisio:  Nothing

 Alsibar:  Do I need to say more?

Aramisio:  No, hahaha.

Alsibar:  Jesus simply felt the need to change. He isolated himself. He went to the desert. But first he went to see John the Baptist and there he was touched by divine energy. That's all!

But he wasn't the only one; Saint Augustine of Hippo was like that, and so was Saul of Tarsus. They simply "repented"... they surrendered, and the Divine Light filled their spirits. Saul of Tarsus was persecuting Christians when he converted!

Aramisio:  That's true. We learn to act frantically, driven by ego. So perhaps our extensive reading is harming us?

Alsibar:  Of course! God manifests in silence, in stillness. Not in the PRACTICE OF STILLNESS. But when the ego disappears and no longer desires or seeks anything for itself, then the Light manifests.

Aramisio:  In the Letters of Christ, Christ recommends reading them extensively.

Alsibar:  Because people have hard hearts. The purpose of reading the cards is to open understanding, to expand consciousness. If you already understand, you don't need to live reading like a robot.

When you find your Inner Light, why keep reading what you already understand? Now, those who haven't understood... they truly need to ask for the grace of understanding.

Aramisio:  Yes, Christ says that after we understand, we should no longer depend on Him.

Alsibar:  Obviously. That's because you'll be guided directly by the Divine Source, the Christ Consciousness within you. Which is what it teaches in all the Letters.

The meaning of the Letters is simple: that we find the Kingdom of God within ourselves. Once you find it, that's it! You no longer need to read them.

Excessive reading can dull the mind and prevent the light of understanding from rising within you. And then you risk falling into the same errors as your ancestors: confusing the moon with the finger that points at it, the means with the ends.

Aramisio:  Yes, that's right!

Alsibar:  The sacred books are simply indicators, suggestions and a guide for each person to find God within themselves.

The purpose of all sacred books is to point to this Inner Light. It has always been so. From Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu, and more recently, Christ through the Letters, and Krishnamurti; they have all said in unison: FIND THE LIGHT WITHIN YOU! And every book or teaching is a signpost, a map to this Inner Light. 

Aramisio:  Yes, because the true source is within us. That's right! After this conversation, I'll have to restructure my process.

Alsibar:  Yes, that's true, that's what these conversations are for. Unfortunately, many people become entrenched in their beliefs, views, and opinions and end up stuck.

Your sincere desire to find the Light guides you, and you will undoubtedly find it. But "you" will not be there to see it. NEVER FORGET THIS: where "you" is, there is no Light. "You" is darkness, the "ego," and both cannot exist at the same time. When one emerges, the other automatically disappears.

It is like light and darkness. When one appears, the other disappears. In this balanced movement between the presence and absence of the "ego," life unfolds.

The ego, therefore, will continue to surface from time to time, like a whale surfacing for air. But it needs to come, because otherwise, you die. It is the ego that is responsible for survival, protection, and comfort. If you eliminate it completely, you die.

The ego arrives and does what it needs: work, money, studies, obligations, physical security, family, sustenance, pleasure, etc. But then it withdraws, and when it leaves... there is the Light. But you don't recognize it because you cannot see it.

“Whoever sees my face dies,” says God in the Bible. So… no one sees the Light directly, but only its effects, its results, which are called the “fruits of the spirit”: peace, equanimity, love, balance, tranquility, harmony, wisdom, strength, energy, joy, happiness, serenity, light, etc.

Try what I said. There will be a significant change in you. I have no doubt, and one day you'll be able to give me your opinion! Okay?

Aramisio:  Thank you very much! I'll reread our conversation later to make sure I understand it better.

Alsibar:  You're welcome! We're here for whatever you need!

COMMENTS

Aramisio:  Very good, I learned a lot from this conversation!

Alsibar:  Thank you, Aram, for the opportunity! And may there be many more! Best regards!

Juan:  That's right... we no longer realize what life is like when we lose control; everything goes unnoticed. Only sometimes do we perceive the silence, but we don't touch it and we get lost again. There are days with more noise and confusion, but they no longer leave the same traces as before; they aren't registered, they remain superficial, without penetrating. The ego can do nothing because it itself is nothing.

Alsibar:  Exactly, my friend. Best regards and thank you for your participation.

Miguel:  Very good, I learned a lot. I see many people who loudly proclaim their spirituality, but I see a lot of ego involved. I believe that a person on the path to enlightenment loses the desire to say, "I am this or that," they simply are, and humility drowns that ego.

Alsibar:  That's right, my friend. Thank you for your participation and comment. Best regards.

Enrique:  Very good, my friend, a profound and enlightening dialogue. When this "search" exists, there must be a seeker, the duality between what is and what should be, which generates the whole process of time, effort, gurus, and conditioning. By understanding that this is an illusion, because the result of the search is to find "more of the same," perhaps something will emerge that is not of the ego, what K. called Intelligence, what Jesus called The Truth, and what so many other thinkers and teachers have called by different names. Thank you for sharing these reflections. Peace be with you.

Alsibar:  Hello Enrique, thank you also for your kind words and comments. Best regards.