Ronda LaRue

WHAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT?

An Interview Talk with Ronda LaRue

There is a recently published book out called: The Awakening West* in which authors John Lumiere-Wins and Lynn Marie Lumiere ask a series of questions to twenty contemporary teachers of the west including Eckhart Tolle, Francis Lucille, Gangaji, Rabbi Rami Shapiro and others.

Ronda was recently interviewed using these great questions and we thank and acknowledge John and Lynn Marie for this intriguing format and their beautiful book.*

Below are the questions, followed by a transcript of the interview and Ronda's responses.

RONDA: "I'd like to suggest you pose these questions to yourself as well - you might be surprised what is seen..."

Questions adapted from the book: THE AWAKENING WEST*

1) Who are you?
2) What is enlightenment, realization, awakening?
3) How did this awakening occur for you?
4) Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for others who are experiencing a desire for awakening to the truth?
5) Does it seem that more and more people in the West are awakening to the truth of their being? And if so, what does it signify?
6) What do you see as the source of suffering in the world, and what if anything can or should be done about it?
7) Without operating out of a personal “I” how do you make decisions and get things done?
8) In the realization of who you really are, how do you experience relationship with others?
9) Does involvement in the various therapies and spiritual practices assist in awakening?

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT WITH RONDA LARUE:

Matt Kahn

I am the kingdom that you seek,
the simple truth that words can't speak.
I am the Buddha's silent vow,
and every question asking how.
Within all shapes and in-between,
I am the space that rests unseen.
I am the spark engulfing mind,
the noticer, you'll never find.
With inquiry, you'll find what's true,
I am this breath that breathes as you.

I am the stars, I am the sky,
I am the life that cannot die.
I am this word that came and passed,
like a sound in time, that cannot last.
I am the now, I am what's here,
and every thought, that's seen so clear.
I am the love, I am the light,
I am the dark that's burning bright.
I am the grace, I am the heart,
I am what can't be pulled apart.
I am the trees, I am the birds,
I am the dream that reads these words.
I am the war, I am the peace,
and all resolve, when choices cease.
I am the joy, I am the dance,
of temporary circumstance.

I am the all, I am the one,
the truth that is, when all is done.
I am the life, just passing through,
and what remains - so, what are you?

Richard J Miller

The "truth is within you". We hear it 1000's of times from many angles, yet we are still looking outside for who's going to mentor us, who's going to guide us to find that "right path" to the within. Is it true? Is that really necessary?

Our experiment is just to talk, with no expectations and no special expertise. Trusting that what comes up is right, and finding it truly amazing. We are experiencing a deep deep friendship that is usually thought to take years to develop. Could this point to something getting revealed about our true nature? Testimony is that after all inquiry, what remains is love. Let's find out for ourselves.
 

You are all invited to appear on this series. Just email your willingness to talk, and we will schedule a time. (It takes a medium good video Skype connection, which is not that difficult. We can coach you on that.)
 

Richard J Miller

I want to explain myself, because some of you might be wondering why I am not scheduling "teacher" interviews at the same rhythm as last year, and "what's up " for this year. Well, really I have no grand vision that I am about to spring on you. It is just that I don't want to take you on the "great circular route", nor get too repetitious.

I do believe that we can still hear from new faces, (even 100's of them). But let's do it in a constantly new and creative way. Let's affect the lives of more and more people, and especially those who have not been attracted to the way this message is now presented. Let's also discover where we have stopped looking for ourselves. If we believe non-duality is the only truth or the next great savior of mankind, if we twinge when people talk about process or cause and effect, well, I think that we are really stuck in our own "new and improved" concepts.

I have long known about other internet broadcasters on the cutting edge. Financing makes for sophisticated systems. But what if anything are we missing, and where would we take it if resources were no limit?

Please check out my little video, and I will put a few links below, if you want to get a fuller view of what can happen in this wide open medium.

Sperry Andrews

created: October 05, 2006

Richard J Miller

 I was cleaning out hard disk space this week and I found the Gayatri Mantra sung by Bernie Heideman.  I couldn't throw it away without doing something with it.  Four years ago I stayed with Bernie in Hotchkiss, CO.. We stayed up late every night and talked.  I was filming at a Neelam retreat, and I also participated in one of his Dances of Universal Peace.

It was always great fun with Neelam because she offered so many processes of interaction between people. What's it like when you look into your neighbor's eyes, 20 people in succession and sing "I am open to all that you are"?  TRY IT!

Do you get enlightened? I guess I am not qualified to comment.  Is that the point?

Suzanne Foxton

There is so much tugging and pulling at the heartstings of the seeker; so many admonitions, so much advice, so many entreaties, so many commands. So many edicts to "dump the spiritual bullshit" or "get off the hamster wheel" or "stop circling the mountain and look up to see the mountain".

I am not a teacher; I won't be telling any apparent person what to do, where to go, or how still to be to "get" this "enlightenment" stuff. A few words of advice might slip out now and again, but as the story seems to unfold to me, there are paths that work, paths that work for some "individuals" but not others, some who conclude the only path is no path, some who resonate with "there is no one" and some who resonate with "be still and see there is no witness". The "ah ha" moment might be a startling mind-event with bells, whistles, visions and bliss, or it might be a gentle shift that leaves the former seeker in gales of subdued chuckles, or it might "happen" and only be noticed "later" with an accompanying classic comedy slap on the forehead.