Lisa Cairns - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview

Also see http://batgap.com/lisa_cairns/

Lisa started spiritually seeking in her early 20's. She had her first awakening in 2005 after attending a talk given by Tony Parsons. After this, she spent some time in India with Ramesh Balsekar. It was there that she met her final teacher, Roger Castillo, who was also a student of Ramesh. She lived with him for three years in Australia during which time many falsehoods were seen through. In the beginning of 2011, Lisa's awakening stabilized and the seeker fell away. Lisa now enjoys communicating the nature of Happiness to anyone desperate enough to know the truth.

Interview recorded 1/7/2012

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[luminoushedgehog]

Dear Rick, from my view what is causative during the spiritual path is that there is an increasingly stripping away of false beliefs. This includes the belief in causation. It is that simple. We have to understand that what is happening during the practices is the stripping away of ignorance. It's not that the stripping away of ignorance "causes" awakening. The stripping away of clouds does not "cause" the sun to come into existence. It just makes the sunlight plain to see.

[BuddhaAtTheGasPump]

@luminoushedgehog Agreed. Sun was always shining, but easier to see without the clouds. Many ways to thin or remove the clouds.

[talkinghead22]

The idea of anything being "true" or "false" is only so much smoke and mirrors that arises in linguistic phenomena... once the notion of being an individual is gone it is obvious there never was anyone to know one or the other. It is such a joke. A character in a film appears to be asking itself how it can become the film. There is no character there are only appearances.

[74Long]

Lisa Cairns says, like many a non-dualist, "here" or "from here it is seen", instead of the mutually and subtly understood "I" or "I see".

Question: Where is this "Here" from where she is apparently seeing and speaking?

[luminoushedgehog]

@SimonKarlos0 Indeed :)

[SimonKarlos0]

@SimonKarlos0

As mentioned at the start of my first comment for this video, I appreciate Lisa and Rick/BATGAP; and I see nothing wrong in calling another person "my teacher," because it is clearly just another part of the refinement "process" that must eventually be let go of. I simply added another perspective on the matter. Before this vid, I enjoyed Lisa's vids on "Death," & added Pt. 1 to my Favorites, as I am huge supporter of her and her teachings. :) So, as a final comment here, thanks.

[SimonKarlos0]

@luminoushedgehog

Repeatedly emphasizing one specific person as "my teacher" is practicing a special relationship, versus the radical spiritual understanding (and not just an intellectual "understanding") that true unconditional love is not special, but shared amongst EQUALS. This is central to the teaching of A Course in Miracles, if you care to see it. Discovering the One Teacher within is its basis, and nothing less. This is what Ramana Maharshi greatly emphasized. Transcending "special."

[SimonKarlos0]

@luminoushedgehog

Many intellectually acknowledge this. I am not speaking of intellect here, but the Spiritual Heart. The Course barely says anything about "advanced teachers," and in fact greatly emphasizes finding the Inner Teacher, the Holy Spirit, the Self, as the central basis of the book. "Advanced teachers" is old-school thinking that the masses have invested in for millennia. That's not what Jesus in ACIM nor I speak about in this discussion, my friend.

[SimonKarlos0]

@luminoushedgehog

@luminoushedgehog

Yes, the Course's example doesn't contradict equality. That is quite different, as I perceive it, than one of who repeatedly refers to just one person as "my teacher." Remember that A Course in Miracles uses "advanced teacher" in a very different way, and does not use the word "special" in the common, worldly way at all in this case. In it, Jesus refers to himself as an "elder brother" while also emphasizing his EQUALITY to the reader.

[luminoushedgehog]

@SimonKarlos0  Sure, many will acknowledge this. The affirmation that each is a holy encounter is from A Course in Miracles. It is a beautiful truth that all are students and teachers of God. Yet the Course also distinguishes that there are advanced teachers of God who play a special role in helping others. It does not contradict the equality.

[SimonKarlos0]

@luminoushedgehog

I will share with you a radical example of Self-honesty in "describing a process of learning that happened." This: "I recognize that each and every person in my journey has been--and is--of value in my awakening process. Each and every being is my teacher; those that I have liked as well as those that I have disliked. I recognize that every encounter is a holy encounter, because the Same Divinity exists in all beings. Thus I recognize that all have helped me discover Truth."

[SimonKarlos0]

@luminoushedgehog

Ah yes, I appreciate your insights. :) Yes, everything I stated is merely opinion/belief/presumption. In regards to the idea of "my teacher," it is wise to realize that EVERYONE "helped the person to realize the nondual," as you said, and not just one person. Recognize that each and every being that you encounter is your "teacher" in this sense, because ultimately each and every being is appreciated EQUALLY for helping you grow, expand in consciousness, and awaken. :)