beyond desire: “… Of all of God’s creations his greatest creation was that of stillness …” ~ Meister Eckhart
Why is stillness one of God’s greatest creations? … maybe because it is one of the keys to the greatest mystery … and the mystery, of course, has to do with our True nature! …
As Jean Klein said “… You can find it {the real self} in your stillness …” {~ from his book Beyond Knowledge} … or … “… Your real nature is stillness …” {~ from his book I Am}
OK, it’s understandable to talk about stillness, the greatest mystery, and our True nature … but what does that have to do with desire and this post’s opening/title question?
Well, desire is an inevitable encounter in the journey of self discovery : suffering arises due to desire … and many seekers are curious about how to handle the challenge of desire and its implications …
Turns out navigating desire is a topic in one of Jean Klein’s gatherings that he characterised as “… During these meetings we shall discuss the knowledge of our true nature. But the word knowledge will here be used in its strict meaning of metaphysical realization, in other words, the actual establishing of ourselves in that which we truly are …” … the transcript of which is offered in his book Be Who You Are … and …
We have been reviewing many such gatherings to explore Jean’s answers to similar questions – that are practical everyday concerns. The transcripts of these gatherings are available as a series of Jean’s books … all of which we are previewing – via chapter excerpts with our preambles – on an ongoing basis:
… starting with his classic Book of Listening … in a 5-part series … and
… then Living Truth which is ongoing with 2-parts so far … and
… then Who Am I … which is also ongoing with 2-parts so far …
… and, more recently Beyond Knowledge … which is also ongoing with 1-part so far …
So, today, we start another multi-part series focusing on Be Who You Are … where part 1 covers some of the most common questions related with desire :
… Do you think it is possible to go beyond desire and find a state of permanent “well-being”?
… What is it that gives birth to desire … ?
… and more …
{All italicized text (except noted otherwise) below is from Be Who You Are by Jean Klein and is published here with the publisher New Sarum Press‘ generous permission.}
“… Your real nature is stillness, light, expansion without center or periphery …”
Beyond Desire To Permanent Well-Being?
Q. Do you think it is possible to go beyond desire and find a state of permanent “well-being”?
A. Yes, but the transcending of desire can only follow a thorough understanding of its nature. As long as we have not returned to our true being, we are subject to desire. We turn from one object to another, that is to say from one compensation to another. It must be thoroughly understood that if we endeavour to vanquish or transcend desire, this in itself is a desire, and if we strive to be detached while our ego resists with all its might, we are creating a conflict.
True detachment comes when things leave us of themselves. And they leave us as soon as we have really understood that they never keep their promises.
Q. Does the realised man constantly retain this attitude of aloofness when he faces the objective world?
A. The man who has realised his true nature continues to face all his obligations, to live in society. Simply he is no longer a party to the activities of a society whose only aim is to satisfy the ego. Unbridled accumulation, and ambition, inordinate desire to develop one’s individuality, the need to intensify one’s personal qualities with an aim in view, all that this implies no longer concerns this man. He is still in the world, but he is not of the world.
[…]
“… established as we are in the solitude of our absolute and non-dual nature …”
Q. What is it that gives birth to desire which is the cause of pain?
A. It is our blindness as to our true nature which urges us to desire and this desire in its turn urges us to action. If we are to be free of desire, we must turn towards the unknown, i.e. “the subject which can never be an object”. By doing so, we change the course of energy, which returns to a state of equilibrium, placing us in our original nature. We then rediscover the knowledge of our true nature.
As we can see, the path to the Self is completely the opposite of our ordinary analytical and objective knowledge by which objects are examined and submitted to our scrutiny. In passing we may note that even this ordinary knowledge is only objective when we no longer endeavour to grasp and seize. Emptiness, rest and relaxation further a state which allows truth to arise.
Thus it may be seen that any search, if it is to be fruitful, always requires the same fundamental attitude of deep, humble, choice-free listening. To return to the path of realization: having once known the experience, established as we are in the solitude of our absolute and non-dual nature, we can never again be subject to delusion. With the death of desire comes the vanishing of pain, since pain is nothing but a lack or a limitation.
Stay tuned for more … Jean Klein’s teachings from Be Who You Are …
All italicized text above (except noted otherwise) is from Be Who You Are by Jean Klein and is published here with the publisher New Sarum Press‘ generous permission.
And, may you … go beyond desire … in your everyday life … and …
May you remain safe and healthy.
Images (edited & Logo added): 1 & Featured) Zen or spa by gunnar3000, 2) Be Who You Are cover image from New Sarum Press, 3) Lonely wooden boat in calm lake. Amazing sunrise in summer morning. The silhouette is reflecting on the water. Orange sky with clouds. Location place Svityaz lake, Ukraine, Europe by Vitalii_Mamchuk, 4) Male of resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) sits on branch in the forest. Costa Rica. by mihtiander. All except 2) purchased from 123rtf and/or depositphotos. All are for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post),
