The Western Baul Podcast Series features talks by practitioners of the Western Baul path. Topics are intended to offer something of educational, inspirational, and practical value to anyone drawn to the spiritual path. For Western Bauls, practice is not a matter of philosophy but is expressed in everyday affairs, service to others, and music and song. There is the recognition that all spiritual traditions have examples of those who have realized that there is no separate self to substantiate—though one will always exist in form—and that “There is only God” or oneness with creation. Western Bauls, as named by Lee Lozowick (1943-2010), an American spiritual Master who taught in the U.S., Europe, and India and who was known for his radical dharma, humor, and integrity, are kin to the Bauls of Bengal, India, with whom he shared an essential resonance and friendship. Lee’s spiritual lineage includes Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Swami Papa Ramdas. Contact us: westernbaul.org/contact
Episodes
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Just This and the Practice of Assertion (Matthew Files)
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Spiritual teachings can be easily understood in a conceptual and not a bodily way. Just This, or the practice of Assertion, is the recognition of what is real in every moment. It was a practice given by the American teacher Lee Lozowick which can be equated to “what is as it is, here and now.” But what is real to ego is everything that maintains the illusion of separation from what is. We may engage in spiritual practice because we sense there is more to life than what we see, which is full of illusion—projection, judgment and meaning-making. Just This is strong medicine to pierce such illusions that get in the way of accessing what is real about life. There is a lot that is real that we’re not aware of. It’s easy to fixate on the 3-dimensional realm as the scope of everything that is real. Yet, we are multidimensional beings. One aspect of Just This is that there is nothing missing right now. Just This is not a remedy, an affirmation to improve one’s life, or a mantra to repeat. Doing a practice in a relaxed way rather than trying to get somewhere without grasping makes the essence of a practice more available. When we accept what is as it is in the moment, the next moment may be a whole different experience of change. Just This is the reflection of reality in words, a doorway into the context of what is real in all of life which can be used at any time. This is Real is another expression of Assertion which can be done at specific times such as during completely natural bodily functions like eating, sleeping and eliminating that do not essentially involve ego. Just This needs a framework, a matrix to arise in that is built by traditional practice. Being human, which is more than having a body, is what we’re building through traditional practice. Matthew Files facilitates groups that support people to look deeper into their process, formulate their own questions, and become responsible for their choices.
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