R
Racket
- As in "running your racket," or "doing your
same old number." It's the contrived behavior pattern that you
have long thought got you what you wanted, before you noticed that it
doesn't work; it is your old, automatic, outworn and probably now useless
conditioned mind-patterns. (See: "Doing your same old number").
[LMT]
Radical
- is that which relates to or noticeably affects the basic
nature or most important features of something. It is far-reaching,
searching or thoroughgoing.
In AHAM, it also
means departing markedly from the usual; extreme - e.g. Realizing the
radical Truth, which indicates fundamental, significant, even sweeping
changes in one's consciousness from the norm, which usually is unconscious,
to being present, very conscious and alert to what's so and taking place
in the moment.
Rajas
(See: Gunas) - In Vedanta,
this is one of the three primal qualities of Prakriti
- described as the color red, the principle of activity; energy; passion;
restlessness
Real
— that which is real is always as it is, it never changes. It is
consistent. It is dependable. It never varies, fluctuates or diminishes,
it never increases or decreases. It cannot be added to or subtracted
from. In this sense, it is the same as truth, it being what is true.
reality
(with a small "r") - In the ordinary world, which is more
often based on the Mind,
a usual or common test for reality is its physicalness; that is, it
has dimension, form and existence in time and space.
The substance of
what we call "reality" is nothing but agreement. However,
once that is established, AHAM then points out that what we usually
consider as reality, being based on the five physical senses, and the
interpretation of their input by the mind, is in fact illusion; the
only thing that is actually real is Experience,
itself. [LMT]
Reality
(with a capital "R") - is not determined by input from the
five senses as commonly believed, but is That which never changes. It
is That which is, as it actually is, not as it appears to be. It is
That which is always real; it never changes, nor is it susceptible to
change. It is the Supreme Truth which, when realized, discloses that
the One Universal Self
is all that is, and is Itself the only Reality.
Realization
- True realization, in a deep spiritual sense, is that which
makes the thing realized more real, dynamic, intimately present and
experienced in one's consciousness. In the full sense of the word, "realization"
or to "realize" (as a verb) is to make real to one's self
and in one's self the true nature of the thing realized.
"Realization
- the Sum and Substance" - Everyone is aware of two things,
namely, himself the seer and the world which he sees; and he assumes
that these are both real. But, according to the Sages, that alone is
real which has a consistent existence.
Judged by this
test of reality, the two - the seer and his spectacle, the seen - are
both unreal. These two appear intermittently. They are apparent only
in the waking and dream states; in the state of deep sleep, they cease
to appear. That is, they appear when the mind is active, and disappear
as soon as the mind ceases to function.
Therefore, these
two are but thoughts in the mind. There must be something from which
the mind rises, and into which it subsides. That Something must have
a continuous, uninterrupted existence. That is, It must be the Reality.
Can there be a
sense of existence without something that exists, or that is Real? Is
one's Consciousness
a thing other than That? Since that Reality dwells thought-free in the
Heart, can it - itself named the Heart
- even be considered or meditated on? Who is there different or distinct
from it to consider it or meditate on it… this Self
whose nature is Reality, or Existence-Consciousness?
KNOW THIS: to be
at one with That, in the Heart, as the Heart, is itself to consider
it or meditate on it; for it is all. This Self dwells in the Heart of
all creatures as one's own Self, like a silent witness without thoughts,
unrelated to anything.
But, this One is
concealed during the outward-turned state of the mind by the false appearance
of the world and the seer, which are both manifestations of the mind.
This One Reality,
named the Divine Self, or Heart of the Absolute - which always is, being
without a second and complete in Itself - is the giver of existence
to the whole world. It also gives its One Light of Consciousness to
the whole mind, which in itself lacks consciousness. Simply see and
know this. This is the true Self. It is always, already realized; there
is no other. [Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's own commentary on Reality,
in his prelude to the opening verses of Ulladu Narpadu ("Reality
in Forty Verses") with additional random verses of commentary by
him].
Realize
- means to make real in your own experience.
Realize
the Truth - is to realize the true nature of the Self;
i.e., to spiritually Awaken as the real Self.
It is to "get it" that you are not the body or mind, not a
separate individual apart and different from God,
but rather in fact are the one infinite and eternal Being,
or Existence-Consciousness. To realize this is spiritual Enlightenment.
Reason
- is all the stuff we use to rationalize and justify why we
do things, which in fact actually keeps us from feeling alive. We are
always looking for "a reason," always trying to make life
reasonable, or give the appearance of being reasonable. You constantly
hear it said, "The 'reason' this or that happened is…"
then one proceeds to give or explain the so-called "reason."
But, in Truth, life is not reasonable. Life is unreasonable, even illogical
and/or arbitrary. [LMT] (See, Cause and Effect)
Reasonable
- means being sensible, rational; it is what's acceptable according
to common sense; it's not expecting or demanding more from a thing than
is possible or achievable; it's not excessive.
We always try to
make life and all things in life - i.e., all persons, situations or
events happening in the world - conform to our mind's personal ideas
or beliefs about them, to our concept of what we think it means, or
believe is happening at any given moment, or to our opinion or conviction
about it.
This is the mind's
need, in fact, its compulsion - to be "right." The mind has
to be right in order to survive, or save face. "Saving face"
and being right to the mind is in fact its survival. Otherwise, it would
cease to exist.
Rebirth
(Reincarnation or re-embodiment) - In the argument of Charles
Darwin and others, and the concept of the evolution of the species,
if the theory of evolution is a physical fact as traditional science
believes it is, then there also stands as an underlying spiritually
fact: this evolution is occurring in the consciousness of the observer.
This is or must be the truth also. Just who is seeing or experiencing
the individual that evolves and grows into a more improved, better-developed
and perfected consciousness and/or physical specimen? This obviously
cannot be accomplished in the course of only one brief human life experience.
So, if there actually
is evolution of the conscious individual, as both science and common
sense indicates there is, and if no other proof than the large number
of child geniuses and prodigies, then there must in fact be rebirth
or reincarnation. To add to this are the number of people who recall
their former lifetimes or embodiments.
Realization
discloses (according to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta
Maharaj and most other Sages), that the Self is actually one, or is
not-two; that in fact there is not now, nor has there ever been, nor
will there ever be an individual being. In fact, embodiment itself is
only an illusion, and is not even real or true now. The true Self
was never born, and thus will never die - how can that which is not
born die? Enlightenment
reveals this world is an illusion occurring in consciousness, just like
a sleeper's dream. It does not have solid objective reality independent
of our consciousness of it.
So the paradox
is, that rebirth or reincarnation is a fact, but it is not the Truth.
Embodiment appears to be occurring in consciousness or the mind, just
like dream experiences. Dream characters appear as people or facts to
be dealt with only while in the dream state; on awakening from the dream
they are seen to be the illusion that they in fact are, and are not
actually real in truth. The same is true when one Awakens to the Self.
It is realized that the body and mind are not the Self, and that in
truth one is not embodied even now in the world, but is the infinite
and eternal Self, which is bodiless.
This means then
that the evolution of the physical body occurs in Consciousness as the
mind evolves, and is projected as such, with every apparent episode
of Consciousness appearing in manifestation; truthfully is all really
just a dream.
Re-Cognizing
- is knowing again, or originally knowing, as "Knowing
the truth as it actually is." It is apperceiving, or seeing totally
or completely.
Religion
- People's historical or cultural beliefs and opinions concerning
the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine
involvement in the universe and human life. It is often with strongly
held emotions and feelings, even bordering on or including narrow-mindedness,
intolerance and bigotry.
Renunciation
- As in "renouncing worldly possessions." In AHAM,
the highest meaning and expression of renunciation is renouncing Thoughts,
it is not giving up the material things in the world. It also means
renouncing one's attachment to things, not the things themselves.
In AHAM, you learn
how to "live in the world but not of the world," which means
having the best of both worlds, the spiritual and the physical. But,
in truth, from the point of view of the Self
they are actually not different, or not in conflict with one another.
They only seem to be from the view of the Ego,
or Body-Mind.
Reseeding
desires - What usually happens when you successfully fulfill
a desire, especially a longstanding desire, is you then quickly replace
it with another bigger, better or more appealing desire for something
else - something more, better, or different. One must learn how to fulfill
one's desires consciously, without them escalating or automatically
being reseeded by the ordinary compulsion for "more." This
is a major feature in AHAM's life transforming programs.
Resistance
- is a common reaction almost everyone has in making significant
changes in one's life. People's lives would already be much easier and
far better, if it were not for the resistance the mind brings up to
the changes that are necessary, changes that in many cases are even
seen and agreed to by the person himself. However, at these times, the
way the mind works, is by working against itself. It will not allow
you to make the necessary changes. When you try to use will power to
force any kind of a change in a situation, the mind only appears to
work to change the situation, or appears to increase its force in the
direction of the intended change.
But this is only
an appearance, and it obviously does not work. The reason? The mind,
at a much deeper level, always works to maintain the status quo, or
to keep things the way they already, presently are. This is why in AHAM
we say, "What you resist persists."
Resistance
and Dealing With it - The easiest, most direct and immediate
way to deal with the mind and its resistance to change is to use another
Higher Power that is always, already present within you. This is your
own Power Of Awareness,
which is very often unrecognized and therefore not
even believed in; thus, it usually remains unknown. Your power of awareness
works naturally with the Law Of Assumption.
When correctly applied in the proper context, it
works effectively to bring about natural change in your life. This means,
you must first fully accept what's so, i.e., what's now occurring in
your space, just as it is. Then you may choose, in its place, what is
preferable. This is effectively taught, and easily understood how to
accomplish it, in AHAM's life-transforming programs.
"Resistance
is futile" - is the tense, nerve-racking warning made
by "the Borg" in the once popular "Star Trek Challenger"
TV series. It contains a powerful principle of simple spiritual truth.
In AHAM, you learn that whatever you resist also resists you in a similar
or stronger manner.
The principle is
very simple: "What you resist, persists," or resisting a thing
only reinforces it, or gives it strength. To hold and defend a position
- any position - naturally and automatically calls up its opposing position
to countermine or serve as a counteracting force. It is a simple law
or principle of the universe manifesting in or as all dual factors.
In the manifestation of life, or duality, opposites depend on one another
for their very existence. When you choose, or even think of one aspect
of an idea or thing, you also draw up its opposite as a consequence.
For example: "up"
requires "down," "hot" needs "cold," "good"
involves "bad," "right" follows "wrong,"
etc., etc. They are mutually dependent, and one chases the other at
all times, on all levels of manifestation.
This was discovered
and made known to science as a principle of physics by Sir Isaac Newton,
and called his Third Law of Motion or Action: "For every action
there is an equal and opposite reaction." It was also known by
wise men even long before Newton's discovery of it. Jesus wisely advised:
"Resist not evil." It is also written in the Vedas of ancient
India.
To double the force
with which you take hold and defend a position, only brings with it
or draws up doubled force in opposition. To again double the defending
force again brings about redoubled force in opposition, which will continue
in this regard (of doubling and redoubling force) until one side or
position ultimately destroys the other, leaving no position to be defended
or mutually enforced.
But, it is amazing
how few people are the least bit aware of this simple principle, and
how it works - particularly politicians and religious leaders. Look
at all the conflict, and all the blood that has been shed, as well as
all the wars that have been caused or brought about by man's ignorance
of this simple principle, or law of the universe. (See: "What you
resist, persists).
Responsibility
- is the ability to appropriately respond to what is needed
or required in a situation, along with the motivation and/or intention
to do so. It is more than being dependable; it is recognizing your abilities
and/or limitations, telling the truth about them, and then functioning
or performing in an accountable manner in a given situation when capable
of doing so.
Revision
- In AHAM, it is intentionally altering a previous conditioned
mental pattern. Revision is a method of replaying or reliving, in your
imagination, a past negative experience in order to live it through
positively, or to experience it in the manner you would have preferred
for it to occur.
We are here working
directly with Consciousness, or active Awakened Imagination. The principle
involved is that the subconscious mind, as well as your brain and the
central nervous system of your body, does not know the difference between
a real fact and an imagined fact. (Page 143, The Handbook to Perpetual
Happiness, by A. Ramana)
"Running
your life, It's" - A phrase that means something is controlling
or dominating your life. It is used to describe events or behavior that
you're feeling victimized by. For example, "His fear of rejection,
or pent up emotions, is running his life." [LMT]
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