Enlightened Sages
"The first freedom and the last freedom lie in self-discovery."
"I'm not saying that we don't follow the instructions of others, that we don't read or listen to others, that's what we're doing right now, for goodness sakes. But the ones to listen to are the ones who tell us that the messenger lies within, and that we go there to find it."
A note about the "Benchmark" text below:A strange phenomena has occurred regarding the text below. A number of sites, both those of a general spiritual nature, and sites of particular religions have copied, posted, or linked to this text. What astounds me is that some of the sites are Hindu, some are Muslim, and some are Christian. How is it that such a diverse group of sects have decided to post this benchmark? I am truly humbled by the answer -- it is the fact that all religions spring from the same Source. That Source doesn't recognize sects, differences, or place -- It only recognizes Itself. The various sites that have chosen to use the "Benchmark" text have all done so because they recognize the universality of Truth. And when the context is Truth, it doesn't matter which spiritual group, religion or sect one belongs to. Isn't that wonderful? Some day in the future, there will be no more wars over religion. Some day there will be no more vilifying of other religions. All people will have realized that Source is One -- and WE ARE THAT ONE. Eastern and Western Sages who Know:"The Benchmark" by Maury Lee A sage may know and express the truth. However, one must always be wary of the messenger that does not point beyond himself. He must always let the student know that the message is within the student as well. The message does not reside in the messenger alone. It is the same message, coming from the inner sanctuary, as it always has, and ever will, eternally. It is your message, although for the moment you seem to hear it best from others. The day will come when you will hear the message directly from your own heart. At that time, your teacher should bow to your inner truth, recognizing it as his own. It is one and the same. One truth, always and forever more. How does one know who is enlightened and who isn't? The history of religion is just as full of charlatans as saints. Many have led the masses astray. However, a few great people have changed the world. They were certainly not charlatans, and many have been called saints or sages. These few may be worth studying. If you are looking for enlightenment, you will not find it through them, though you may find a few good pointers. So, what does mark the enlightened? The truly enlightened have an authority that is indomitable, yet not overbearing. They process a knowing that is unchallenged by pain, hardship or intellectual discourse. It stands on the firm ground of being that is prior to intellect, so it is not challenged by it. Being prior to intellect, it's authority is greater than intellect or feeling. They have imbibed an experience, a knowing, that cannot be logically justified to themselves or another. Yet the results of that experience places them on rock solid ground, where the personality is finally at rest. Fasting in that state, nothing can take it away. A sure sign of the truly enlightened is a humbleness in equal proportion to their abilities. Their constant mantra, spoken or unspoken, in their words and between the lines of their writing, is the affirmation, "Not I, not I, but spirit." They may call their gift Spirit, God, Christ, Buddha, Matraiya, Source or Self, but the "Not I" is their primary stance. They may be pacifists or martial artists, but their pervasive attitude is one of surrender to that which is whole, transcendent, beyond the grasp of intellect, self contained, complete and at rest. No matter how brilliant their writing, how clear their thinking, how deep their awareness may be, if you feel the taint of ego -- the touch of me and mine, of specialness, this is not an enlightened master. This is not to disparage the ego. The ego is a necessary and useful tool for Source. Without an ego, what is there to surrender? The body-mind needs an ego for its particular work. But the enlightened sees the ego as a tool, like an arm or a leg. It is there, at the moment of surrender, just another tool for spirit to use. Another way to make the same point is that in the Sage, the ego has expanded to include the whole. In the East they may say the denial of the ego is the path to enlightenment. In the West we may say that the individual self, the ego has expanded to include the whole. Either way, the result is the same, a powerful presence, filled with humility, but sure. As Nisargadatta points out, "The sinner and the saint are just exchanging notes." All the truly enlightened express the drooping off of fear, of guilt of sadness and hope. They are those who have risen above the apparent opposites of fear and hope, where these defining feelings are merged into a bliss -- "peace that passes understanding." There is NO understanding it with the conventional mind. The Buddhists have fine tuned this knowledge with their many metaphors. The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon. The "eternal now" is a backdrop of the enlightened one's talks. There is only, truly the present, and this is seen and felt in their words and behavior. When you are with a saint, a guru or priest, who speaks, yet claims, it is not I speaking, who acts, but claims no praise or glory for himself, these are signs of being in the presence of Source. One Source - You are That!
Have you been looking for a source on enlightenment, a source that has links and references to all those greats who were truly enlightened. Do you believe the teaching, "Seek and you will find." You have come to one of many sites that will help you along the way. Go to the links page and check out the sites of teachers. We hope you find the links enlightening. You will find text and links to many of the greatest past and current teachers of non-dual awareness. True mystics and enlightened teachers, by our definition, are listed here. If you don't agree, send me links you think should be included. You will be the judge as to whether or not our resources are valid for you. As J. Krishnamurti has said, "Truth is a pathless land," and we have no lock on the truth. We have tried very hard to give you only the best. That judgment is ours, and perhaps arbitrary. We hope Jesus of India is a rewarding stop in the search for enlightenment. If you don't like the term enlightenment, then call it a search for truth, or mystical union. We really don't care what it's called, for words can be a prison, and names limiting. Neither enlightenment nor truth can be held or defined by words, and you won't find us claiming to have the text that contains The Truth. We only hope we have some good pointers. The final key that unlocks the transcendent for you, may not be here. But, our hope is that through this site you will guided to the right place for you. Whether it be an article or text here, or through a reference, link or name, we mean for this site to be a good stop on your search. Is it a coincidence that you are here? Perhaps. But many of the great sages have proclaimed loudly, that there are no coincidences. Your perspective on this could be enlightening. For example, if you feel that you are free, in control, and doing your thing, you will most likely find the idea of no coincidences, unacceptable. But, if you have begun to sense that you are more than this body-mind, masquerading in a particular body with a name, this idea may not be so strange. After all, you didn't ask to be born. You don't know the time and place of your death. But, just perhaps, Source does. By changing or correcting one's identity from individual to Source, you just may find that you are free, unbound, unborn, uncreated, timeless. Eternal awareness is your true nature. Your disguises are many, and few take off their mask. Most don't even realize they are wearing one. How about you? Do you really think that your persona is anything but a mask? Take it off and see who you are. Quit making assumptions and buying hook, line and sinker, others' assumptions. They don't know either. The true teacher always says, "Not I, but the Father." just like Christ. Anyone pointing to their personal self as the knower, preaching that you must listen only to them, is a thief. A true teacher will always say, "If you truly see yourself, I am there. When you no longer see the student, there will also be no teacher, for truly we are One" They know, and will let you know, that you too, are That. You are not here for individual reasons or individual pursuit of lessons. There is nothing to learn, and nothing to do. You are here for reasons of Source. And source may have desires, purpose and things for you to do. You may rest assured that Source is enjoying your existence much more than your individual experience may indicate. Ultimately you are that Source, so that perspective when found, is your path to freedom. This site is not a site for any and all things considered spiritual. We will not promote groups seeking world peace, the ending of hunger, or the ending of war. It is the belief of the creators of this site that all these things will spring spontaneously into being, if and when, enough individuals arrive at knowledge and experience of Source. So this site and the novel, Jesus of India, is dedicated to individuals and their pursuit of that Ultimate understanding. Group consciousness in pursuit of solving grand problems will cater to the lowest common denominator of the group. The group ego supposes that the world is flawed, when a perspective from Source would indicate otherwise. Only an abundance of enlightened people, without effort, without strain, will change the world. And this change will not be orchestrated by a group or organization. It will spontaneous, unavoidable, without a trace, like pebbles, dropped in a pond. Too many people are bent on changing the world for the better without having done their own work. But, even this doesn't matter. Why? Because, Source will use every failed effort to reinforce the fact that each and everyone has their personal work to do. Any participation in a group effort that fails, will cause each individual who participated to ponder what went wrong, and wonder how they got involved with such a scheme. When you finally arrive, you will see that there was nothing personal in it at all. After all, you are Source. YOU ARE THAT!
William Samuel Jesus of India Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006 by Maury Lee
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