Key 1 - Accede to Acceptance
copyright © john lamb 2019
“Be free to accept and therein lies your freedom” - Gururaj
My teacher and mentor, Gururaj Ananda Yogi (1932-1988) extolled the maxim of there being two stages to self-realisation - acceptance and surrender. He pointed out acceptance is the action we need to perform and surrender happens more or less automatically once acceptance is achieved. Accordingly, acceptance is the pre-eminent key to reaching the goal of yogic philosophy, which targets merging our apparent personal self with our inner reality.
So what exactly do we mean by acceptance? This question deserves some deliberation, if we want to come to terms with why acceptance is so fundamental.
As meditators, we take on the proposition of self-strength for resolving life’s concerns by practising calmness. Self-strength spearheaded by acceptance, non-attachment and awareness, brings about immeasurable self-reliance, which resolves pretty well everything.
However, in practising these precepts, the depth of meaning in the affirmation, “I am practising acceptance” has to be interpreted correctly. So, let’s have a go.
Initially, this can be tricky because we use the intellect to execute acceptance. As we know, the intellect is restricted to rationalising facts the mind has invented or remembered, while in meditation we are aiming for a permanently satisfactory state the mind can’t reach.
[Look at appendix 1 if you’re not familiar with the mind’s self-limiting criteria.]
Accordingly, we can perform only the acceptance that’s mind-permitted – until we surrender to true knowledge, when total acceptance becomes mergence into realisation of actuality.
We need to acknowledge the mind’s favourite activity, which is side-stepping truth. Truth is truth and the mind doesn’t have the capacity for it absolutely.
The demand on us therefore, as we practise, is to minimise resistance to truth. This can be done quickly or over an elongated period of time. It’s entirely up to us. Unfoldment doesn’t have a timetable. We decide.
We can minimise resistance by looking at the way things really are as opposed to what light and temperature conjure up in front of us. In other words, it’s fundamental we recognise the barefaced fact we are not solid objects.
Our non-solid (proven) actuality is certainly not what the mind would prefer. The mind perceives an illusion, relying entirely on separate objects and out of this it fantasises an immortal material utopia.
When we allow the mind to control, we sometimes conveniently disconnect that each of us has brought the individual ‘me’ to its present state in evolution. All sages who originated meditative yoga, and those who keep the teaching pure, proclaim we are responsible.
And the science attached to this truth is the proof, now witnessed by quantum examination, of the presence of our finer particles, both visible and invisible.
These (recent) discoveries give us outright confirmation; we - and all that surrounds us - are unescorted energy and not material matter as in a person named (so and so) with a history of achievement and sadness / unfairness, likes and dislikes etc. This substantiates the palpability that each so called individual is really a mind-constructed blob.
In this context, permanently, lies a fundamental truth examination - are we really here? This is a substratal question and has a substratal answer, which is NO. This is so basic and is primary to all who seek truth. But it’s often overlooked by those resisting deep understanding.
There’s a saying, “Truth stings but it certainly helps.” We resist truth because of the initial discomfort it often causes, in our minds. Nonetheless, once a new, sometimes uncomfortable, factualism is addressed it gradually becomes frictionless. Whereas, refusal to assimilate actuality causes unending upset by blocking supportive natural energy flow.
In consequence, truth needs clarifying by repetition so as to keep it in noticeable view. When we become non-resistant to our actuality, which opposes the story we spin, then Grace (or Shakti), which is pure energy, becomes more available.
Let’s look at a quote from Gururaj: “One of the secrets behind your practice of gurushakti is that man has within himself the power to be everywhere in this entire universe; to be able to permeate every single atom that constitutes this universe. And by doing spiritual practices, we automatically draw that power which invigorates us, regenerates us and rejuvenates us. It's so simple, it’s all one energy.” [The practices are not just techniques but largely discriminating truth from untruth].
Inventing the individual ‘me’, as we do, necessarily implies self-evolution. We seem to be born free but the knocks and discrepancies we experience elongate our propulsion.
Applying the evolutionary component to our outlook can solve a lot of seemingly unanswerable questions. Some folk don’t recognise evolution, claiming our whole experience is one short life. Others reject the thought of bringing themselves to this very spot, not wanting to research how this could be done. That’s generally why billions declare someone else must have done it for them. But, as soon as pure consciousness is re-cognised, self-evolution becomes obvious.
Not least, this life is a tremendous opportunity to resolve our evolution, especially if we are currently held back somewhat - including failure to re-cognise our reality, which is awareness and not solid matter.
For those who want to unfold more, we can start with a simple exercise to underpin the expansion of acceptance. We can practise thankfulness. First, we’ve brought ourselves to a point on our journey where we are contemplating the pointlessness of materiality - and thus we want unfoldment. So we can, at the very least, be thankful for this position in which we now find ourselves.
Here we are in the yogic arena – the unity park, so to speak. We might even have slipped back and forth getting here. This position in evolution deserves celebration, not pity. And when we celebrate our evolutionary status, with thanks and joyfulness, we add more steps towards acceptance.
Being thankful is a sattvic impulse we can inject into life in all sorts of smaller ways too, a hundred times a day; even more. Gratitude produces an empowering energy outwardly because it’s extraordinarily positive. The mind is of course very much cleansed whenever it’s bathed in positivity. Every bit of positive energy instigated by us builds focus towards inner power because it turns our attention away from the imaginary little me. This is how mindfulness techniques work.
So, thankfulness is a good starting point, whether or not we can immediately accept the principle of self-evolution. As we develop the self-responsibility posture, regarding absolutely everything that happens to us, we then start to address acceptance in its broader aspects, which boils down to the truth of what is.
Whatever has happened previously, including in this lifetime, we need our experiences. We need all of them to elevate our achievement from here on, so it’s advantageous to get used to being thankful. Then we can move forward with truth, by gradation, in order to get away from suffering. You’ll have learned all this if you’ve examined the teachings - even a tad - of enlightened masters.
Additionally, we should remind ourselves, there are no accidents. We choose our parentage and our disruptions. Everyone can safely say, “I’ve made it to this point, this fork in the road, with my Karma and Samskaras at my side. And this is where I stand, totally positive - refreshing my view forward to include meditation and truth, which, combined (see GR’s quote above), are essential to me in my quest - if I make the most of this opportunity - for the permanent satisfaction and contentment I seek.”
We can accede to acceptance more and more as we go about daily life and we should do so consciously and continuously. This posture is possibly the shortest route to realisation if combined with practising absoluteness (See key 5).
Once we start on the road of unfoldment - the willing search for, and participation in, a more viable existence - there’s no going back. We can feel the curtains are opening; we know we’re on the right track. It’s a tricky track at times but it’s just as tricky when we’re not consciously involved in unfoldment. So, we’re gaining, not losing, when we get around to holding our self-responsibility (for everything) in clear perspective.
If you don’t want to accept self-evolution at this time, thereby resisting acceptance on the broader scale, you can press on with what you prefer to believe. You’re going to lead yourself forward, aren’t you, whatever your beliefs? I don’t think it matters what our beliefs are. Sincerity counts more than anything else, together with surrender to some force other than limited 3-dimensional materiality.
Acceptance is acknowledging truth. In effect, it’s a willingness to lead oneself away from the illusion; a real attempt to improve one’s consciousness by applying the essential effort needed. Even well-established meditators can’t afford to let up on this effort, if banishing suffering from life is their goal.
Whatever the preferred way forward, I feel nourishment and support is reachable by accessing these keys so they can be brought to the fore at any point you find yourself gasping for more liberation. You’re going at your own speed now, aren’t you? This little book is inviting you to accelerate a bit, if you fancy doing so, by uncovering shards of hard-to-detect smudge concealed in awkward little corners.
Click below for the other Keys: