The Perfume of "I" (Excerpt)

Adyashanti dialogues with a student about “no-self” and the sense of “I,” and compares our sense of self with the scent of flowers in perfume-just because we have a sense of something, it is not necessarily there. Excerpted from February 15, 2009, Palo Alto Meeting, “The Experience of No-Self”: bit.ly/3QIvU5g
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Quote from this Video: “There’s a sense of self, but that doesn’t mean there is a self. We think if there is a sense of self, there must be one-but that’s not really true.” adyashanti.org

[@muellertobias1441]

After I became immensely interesed in "enlightenment" in 2012 and walking around the forest for hours on end listening to Alan Watts, I definetely saw through the ficiton of ego. What followed, however, were the most difficult years of my life in which I was very unstable, feeling existential terror, depression and all the rest. Looking back, it was exactly what Adya describes here. The egoic mind trying to reconstruct itself and all the hidden traumas of my childhood coming up. I had a lovely upbringing, but it was all the "regular" traumas you have, this or that comment in school about your appearance which somehow had a deeper impact on you than you thought. Until everything is looked at and adressed, it can be a really messy time.

[@kevinmai2947]

Now everything just is eh? It feels like freedom.

[@stanley5394]

If you wouldn’t mind expanding on your comment, how exactly do or did you “address” the childhood traumas?

[@muellertobias1441]

​@@stanley5394 It wasn't really a matter of choice. They simply flung right into my face and I wasn't able to ignore them anymore. They became the most relevant aspects of my life and I obsessed about them until I was finally able to let them go. This was way more messy that I can describe. It didn't involve sitting in the lotus position. I wasn't aware that the ego was trying to reconstruct itself, it was "me" finally figuring things out.

[@Always-There]

I had an awakening in 2019 that was followed by 2 years or more of confusion, upset and physical illness. Despite the obviousness of what is seen, seems it can take some time to understand and integrate it into your humanity. It’s certainly life changing but will settle. For me it continues to unfold & deepen and the bliss I was expecting has finally started to shine through. Shame there isn’t a group somewhere to support people who wake up. For me, Adya’s book ‘The End Of Your World’ was a total life saver.

[@dj67084]

This is very similar to something I've felt. I've kept up my practice of self-inquiry for about 10 years after being very interested in meditation as a kid. I had developed a blissful sense of bare attention to bodily sensations in my meditations a few years ago. That's grown in to a warm awareness of seemingly infinitely diverse sensations, imagery and vocal phenomena that "I" associate with my emotions, memories, and motivations. About a year ago I was being very aware of my mental space when a strong emotion arose and an angry thought sprung into my mind and my mood changed. Watching instances like that over and over has helped me find the perspective of no self. The swirling dust clouds gain an anxious sense of kinetic energy when we identify and apply our stories to them, but if you stop believing/identifying with the story, the dust just twirls on, infinitely. The secret is, the "self" that's looking *isn't* the One that finds Something. It's the entire experience you're having that finds a new perspective... and over time you begin to identify with that perspective more, until you start losing the sense of "any" perspective at all... because the more you rest in bare being, you exhaust the possibility of being in any particular place from which to even "take" a perspective. You are everything, even the very search to realize that Truth. The more you rest in it the more it makes sense and the harder it is to describe. At this point I'm switching periodically back between the searcher and the experience of the search. Just enjoying the dance of life. Thank you for these videos, they have helped a lot with calming the egoic "kick back" of self-inquiry. Most of the time the answer is to let go, and be with it. Peace and Love.

[@JohnnyCatFitz]

This is such a needed reminder that what was seen was then and is now. There is last line of a prayer i remember from church. What was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.... And that makes a great great happiness occur right in this moment. The moment that once occured is a trick, it isn't a moment, it is the reality, the one, the ever present,now. This is joy. Adya, there aren't enough thanks for all you do. ~~ oxo

[@HalConick]

That last minute is where I am. Everything comes up as it needs to. It’s scary and sad and beautiful.

[@camilolarosa7398]

Thank you very much for sharing this. I feel this is what i'm going through, in my case my mind sends ideas that seem designed to cause fear and guilt and sort of catch me back at any cost, and I find it rejects freedom completely. It has been going for some time because i gave energy by fearing it. Today I found myself able to choose not to feed this, allowing it to happen without judgement, staying with the self while everything happened. And now I see this video that somehow confirms again what I should keep doing, although is not a doing as such. Thank you 🙏🧡

[@kimberlysmith7311]

Yes me too friend. Isn't it crazy how we can rebound like this. ❤😂

[@camilolarosa7398]

@@kimberlysmith7311 for sure! ❤️🙌🏼

[@clarkkent3730]

the stench of ego "I" the perfume of "I AM"

[@kimberlysmith7311]

Lol, No!! I DO EXIST!! And if you ignore me I'll bug you!! Ego mania. Boy do I feel what she's saying!! ❤😂

[@MuttaAnicca]

I really liked it when she called it a "little dusk tornado." That's one of the coolest names I've ever heard! I've always had a deep appreciation for "The Temple Bells" by Anthony de Mello, and when it happened to "me", it was exactly like in the story. It sounded/felt like a "thousand temple bells ringing". I met Adya few years ago and he tremoundsly helped me on my journey, I will be always forever grateful to him. He truly understands where a person is and what they need. Metta!

[@wernetto]

All those people should listen to Richard Lang or Douglas Harding. After being prepare by Adyashanti they will have instant awakening.

[@LurkingCrassZero]

Aye, I, eye!

[@loribarton3712]

I love the ASKER in this. She is vulnerable, real, able to say..."I don't know". I resonate with I DON'T KNOW. Thank-you to her and to Adya for embracing, "I don't know. Because, I just don't know anything.

[@ebrahimmahomed906]

❤Being Frank and sincerely honest with regards to ones state is the single most important criteria in this long and arduous journey. ❤ May God bless her, you, adya and all the rest.❤

[@Jimmy-wn6ll]

To "me" this is the most interesting fascinating video ever after an experience i had with several masters after being a drummer in a rock band and learning zazen

[@Jimmy-wn6ll]

Was thinking about this today. If there's no I then there's pure experience experiencing experience

[@BobMasonPhD]

My 1st visit and wonderful Adyashanti

[@sandrag8656]

yes, yes and yes! 👌🙏❤

[@gameofthrones5655]

Jes❤ Aum

[@liladivyati4935]

That is tremendously helpful. I really appreciate it ❤

[@RARDingo]

I keep dreaming of my own execution. There comes a point in the dream where I have the choice to resist or accept. I choose to accept & wake up feeling empty, like I'm not transmitting anything in the subtle energy spectrum either. Taking up the burdens of the day through habit, I long for this death each night.

[@paulzet]

Such a clarity.thaank you a lot dear Adya

[@awakenotwoke7949]

There’s nothing wrong with ego. It is a necessary function. It hinders when it claims to know all it needs to know, and shines when it acknowledges its limitations.

[@pilargarcia6724]

Muchísimas gracias!!!🩵🙏😊

[@elonhusk222]

Comments not disabled 😮

[@malaselvarajah5398]

❤

[@willkenway]

Thank you. ❤️🙏

[@eytschmaen]

Somebody: "Hey Buddha!" Buddha: "Who's calling whom?" 🤔😇

[@cashlaineharles2692]

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@robertleslie5741]

Just a thought... The perfume of "I" is the "Spirit of True Humility."

[@truesight91]

Adyashanti is more Alien than Aliens.

[@contessaannavonfunk6166]

❤