Errant teachings - on self, letting go, and suffering

It is a misconception in that it is part of but not the whole truth to say the following:

• Teaching: Just let go, stop thinking or reading, and you will awaken
• Truth: Striving, giving full effort will bring us to the point where letting go occurs.
• Teaching: Every human being suffers
• Truth: personal suffering can and does end. Humanity as a whole suffers.
• Teaching: The self doesn't exist 
• Truth: The self doesn't exist as separate.

Can science define consciousness?

"Consciousness" by filmmaker Gregory Alsbury 2005, is a 5-DVD series interviewing 20 experts in various fields such as neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology,

Ist it really possible to be free of suffering?

Yes. All the great masters, and a number of spiritual teachers say yes. No, too many Dharma seekers, and some "awakened" spiritual teachers say no.

What is reality for you?

A question that must be answered for oneself...directly and experientially? Consider...
A DVD series of scientific discussions on consciousness and the nature of reality.

How many reasons to be on a spiritual path?

Three reasons: 1) To find freedom from suffering; 2) to find the deepest truth; 3) to be of service to others. Do in fact, all come from a common arising of suffering?

IAA book dismissed by spiritual leaders

Submission of a sample of my book in progress "Inquiries About Awakening" elicited various negative feedback that will either get me to redirect the approach

Inquiries: the end or a new beginning?

A Shape-shifting is occurring. The process of turning this process into a book is stalled at the feedback stage.  A prelim inquiry to ShantiMayi produced almost total negation,

Should we really assert that "I" doesn't exist?

Spiritual teachers everywhere repeatedly assert that there is no "you" or "I." Claiming Advaita as the basis for their teaching, which I believe was made obsolete

What is the mystery on the journey to awakening?

Many teachings and spiritual people refer to various mysteries on the path to enlightenment. It seems that sometimes, when a difficult question comes up,

What is the shift of identification known as awakening?

The shift of identification of the self is associated with spiritual awakening. It is so commonly described that it is ubiquitous.

Is the mind the most difficult inquiry?

Nobody agrees on what the mind is or just what it does. The school of Yogacairna called it the Alaya-Vijnana, recognizing conscious and unconscious.

What is a human being?

A human being is a microcosm of consciousness, the first level of expression capable of experiencing all things. Love gives it the desire to experience

How do we define the spiritual heart?

TO BE COMPLETED from below References:

Why should we want to awaken?

The obvious answer is to end suffering. The next common answer is to satisfy the desire for truth. Looking deeper, I find another answer:

Is Advaita Vedanta obsolete?

It is time for this direct inquiry. 1) This school demands a formal master-student relationship, including surrender 2) The I AM philosophy and concept of a supreme self is core

Is the "I AM" an erroneous teaching?

Contemplating the "I AM" is basic to Advaita teachers such as Ramana, Nisargadatta, Jean Klein, and it is bread and butter for many lesser teachers today. Should it be?

How do you know if you are awakened?

One of my fellow Dharma students asked "do you think you are awakened?"

What is ultimate reality? Academic reference

Sometimes we should go to academics and get the broader view. This is from http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/URBELIEF.html

Can we revisit the five skandhas?

They are the essence of the Heart Sutra: Form, sensation, volition, conception, and consciousness. Skandha is Sanskrit, meaning "aggregate."Sunyata = interdependent causation = "emptiness."

What was Buddha's ultimate teaching?

There is claim that it was the LOTUS SUTRA. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Sutra comes this:

From where does the teaching of emptiness come?

It's not from Sai Baba, Eckart Tolle, Adyashanti, Jean Klein, Ramana, or Nisargadatta. They are just handing it down, and as one lesser teacher put it "repackaging."

Where does pleasure fit on the spiritual path?

You won't find bogha mentioned much in spiritual circles. It means "fun" or "pleasure" in Sanskrit, and is/was the name of a whole school of yoga

What is awareness? (and consciousness)

Similar to consciousness, this is decribed in various and contradictory ways.
NEED TO EDIT AND ADD TO:

What is consciousness?

There may be more clarity in addressing the relationship between consciousness and some other attribute like awreness, than describing consciousness on its own.

Why can't we talk about the absolute beyond all knowing?

The Buddha was rather clear about it, elevating it from the Vedas, and even avoiding the doctrine of emptiness as a way of understanding it.

Are awareness and consciousness interdependent?

The DVD series "Buddhism" by Malcolm David Eckel (The Teaching Company, 2001) contained a helpful lecture on the doctrine of emptiness.

Why do we avoid inquiry?

Yesterday at Adyashanti's event in San Rafael we volunteered and were given parking lot duty and chair take-down duties. I had an inquiry in mind, got a 3rd row seat,

What is a spiritual journey?

This inquiry is about how we define "spiritual journey," and what makes it different than just living life.

Who are we? A new line of inquiry

Who am I? or Who are We? Occurs that I should become i, and we should be We. The question expands our concept of dual nature of an individual to that of community.

Inquiries for teachers and for discussion group

Many questions are occurring that don't seem to be answered in teachings or in books going around now. Questions for teachers are perhaps best asked