U is a spiritual teacher, an advaita vedantist, who responded to a quote from my book Dharma Sky when Robert Meagher posted it on the Sacred Attention Therapy Study Group. The short exchange between U and myself illustrates the crucial necessity for Sacred Attention Therapy in a culture that seeks a quick spiritual fix to avoid psychological problems and highlights the need for radical healing of the psyche as a prelude to sincere spiritual practice leading to Self-realization.

“The next is the slightly complex quality of acceptance. Accepting everything is a sacred practice. It means approaching people, events, relationships, and circumstances openly, but also with an expanded possibility. In a sense anything might happen, but this does not mean that it is all good or even alright. So within the atmosphere of openness and acceptance, we may discriminate and respond appropriately, say no when we need to, and realize and remember that we have a responsibility to the other person and to our self to represent the ethos of sacred conduct and boundaries.” – Richard Harvey, Dharma Sky, 99

U: Acceptance presupposes non-acceptance… transcend both by remaining in awareness of both and the limitations they impose on your true being. How can one expect to transcend limitations by including them in their approach? It will only raise another one. Find out who's the one in which these, the need for acceptance for example, are happening.

Richard: With great respect, you state the position of Advaita (Non-dualism) on this question of acceptance. But Sacred Attention teachings embrace not only the non-dualist point of view, but also the Dvaita (Dualist), and Visistadvaita (Qualified Non-dualist) positions too. This is because in SAT we do not differentiate or separate those human beings who consider themselves different from God, part of God, or One with God (respectively dualism, qualified non-dualism, and non-dualism). While you are surely correct in saying that accepting a limitation will only raise another... and another, people today have experienced a dearth of acceptance of themselves in early life. The inner realms of the psyche (or soul) are required to heal deeply in order for individuals to attain the depth of surrender necessary to embrace the deep spiritual insights of Advaita and until they do Oneness remains out of reach.

U: Much love Richard. ...indeed, my approach is very direct....it doesn't give room for the psychological mind by questioning its existence and its validity right away. This is self-inquiry which is necessary and includes what you speak of but more directly. Therefore this approach is not for the faint of heart. The Oneness which I assert is present without any excuse is already there. So Oneness must be transcended in order to experience it as a living reality.....eventually. Why? Because it also leads to two which is still separation. So one must inquire directly eventually when the maturity is there.

Richard: All love to you U. Self-enquiry (vichara) is an ancient method of discovering the Self and Advaita Vedanta is one of the very highest spiritual insights and methodologies in the world today. However, since the writing of the Vedas and the practices of ancient times the world in which human beings live has changed out of all recognition. Technological, scientific, sociological, societal, and cultural transformation has rendered our world more complex and sophisticated than Christ, Krishna, or the Buddha could possibly have conceived. It may be that in times gone by self-enquiry emancipated human beings (although even this is the stuff of legends very often). Today though in an increasingly westernized culture the conversations of Ramana Maharshi or Nisargadatta, though relatively recent, read like anachronisms. Watered down self-enquiry, offered by popular spiritual "teachers" has been sanitized and processed into spiritual entertainment for sincere seekers who are nonetheless unable to awaken. In Sacred Attention teachings we are absolutely clear. Perhaps it is "maturity," as you say, to enquire directly, but the vast mass of humanity is psychologically damaged. Working with egos that are unformed, malformed, or simply non-existent there is a crucial and immediate need for people to grow into adulthood through a complex process of psychological development, heart-flowering into authenticity and compassion, and -- and this is a big and -- entering a period of spiritual preparation before entering into spiritual practices proper. Hardly anyone is really ready for self-enquiry; this is just the way it is and we must face and work with present world conditions without idealization or unreal expectations. So my primary thought is that we must heal the psyche when the maturity is there… and not rush into spirituality before we are ready.

Dharma Sky by Richard Harvey is available at http://www.therapyandspirituality.com/books/dharma-sky.html.

The paragraph at the beginning of this blog is from the lecture Sacred Attention Part 2, 30 Jan 2013. You can see and listen to an interview about this lecture at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKG0sN5num0&index=43&list=PLx4lzCsR4bvkaAU2mEeanTGvrhRkSz5jR

The lecture Sacred Attention Part 2, 30 Jan 2013 is available to download at http://www.sacredattentiontherapy.com/Lectures.html

For info on the Sacred Attention Therapy Study Group visit http://www.sacredattentiontherapy.com/Study-Group.html

BLOG entry #56