Lesson 17 – Neti Neti with Beliefs
When you see very clearly that you exist independent of the things that appear and disappear in your life, not separate from them, but independent from them, then your identity shifts from things to Being. When this happens, usually through the direct recognition of existence itself, you inherit all the benefits inherent in Beingness-Existence. Bentinho Massaro
In this lesson, you will apply the Neti Neti Meditation to your beliefs. If you find it helpful, consult the list you created in Lesson 13’s preparation phase.
Now, go and have fun exploring your freedom from your own beliefs! You can deeply enjoy the eternal peace that comes over you when you realize the truth that you are not your beliefs, not even those you feel most closely identified with.
Neti Neti Meditation (Stage 5) – “I Am Not My Beliefs”
Now that you’ve seen clearly that you are not your circumstances, nor your thoughts, emotions, or sensations, imagine—or simply observe—the beliefs that you can be conscious of at this time and that seem to generate and influence your present-day reality experience. Really, any belief will do for seeing that you’re not it. Consult your list of stressful beliefs and go through them, if you need to.
The Starting Focus
“I am here and now. I exist without effort. I am Present. I am Conscious. I am changeless. I am Pure Beingness. I-AM.”
Then Realize…
“The belief I observe is over there, while I am over here.”
Now, go back and forth a few times, between being centered on I-AM, over here, and focusing on the appearance of the belief, over there…
Then continue, by making the following observations:
“I AM before, during, and after the appearance and disappearance of this belief, and all other beliefs like it. This belief, and all others like it, come and go, while I remain like the ocean remains, as its waves rise and fall, appear and disappear.
Since I am over here, and my beingness remains beingness, even while my beliefs come and go on the surface of my beingness, I cannot possibly be my beliefs—for I am here witnessing their arrival, their temporary presence, and their inevitable departure.
All the while, I abide, I remain, I know my Self—I stay home.
I exist prior to, and am therefore more fundamental than, the coming and going of beliefs, as well as my thoughts about these beliefs, all of which I am effortlessly conscious of, from over here.
If I am conscious of what appears, then I am that which is consciously present, not the beliefs that appear to this conscious presence.
I am Presence-Consciousness. I Exist, no matter what. I-AM, independent of this belief or that belief. I remain unaffected by beliefs.
My true Identity is Presence-Consciousness. Beliefs are just energetic appearances created out of my being’s essential Presence-Energy, like waves are made out of the ocean’s water.
Just as the water is unaltered by the dancing of the waves, my basic existence remains unaffected by the forms it uses to express itself.”
“I Am Not My Body”
Stage 6 truly signifies crossing a new threshold, opening up a new realm of possibilities.
However, in order to fully go here, some much needed practice with the previous five stages is necessary. So, practice it well and sincerely, and take your time before proceeding to the next lesson.
If you wish to take a week or two off to integrate all you have learned so far, to deepen your experience of I-AM throughout your everyday life experience—to let it become more natural—then please honor that desire.
Listen to whatever resonates.
Then, when you’re ready… In the next lesson, we will take what you’ve gained from your familiarization with this entire course, and your deepening experience with this lesson’s contents, and apply it to the core sense of “I am this body”—for this tends to be the closest and deepest association that people identify themselves with.
“I am this body” is an idea that has become a visceral, instinctual feeling, and has most likely penetrated deep into the different layers of your mind. As such, it deserves its own full-sized lesson to help you unlatch your true being—I-AM— from your assumed being—I-AM-this-body.
This will catapult you into a whole new level of allowing true fearlessness to blossom in you, positively influencing every area of your life.
Homework
Repeat this powerful Neti Neti meditation with each item on your list of “beliefs” until you feel clear from believing you are attached to them. Clearly see you continue to exist with or without them, and that even while they are present in your life, you are already beyond them, free from them.