1. The mind is nothing but the thought “I.”
2. Thoughts arise because of the thinker.
3. The thinker is the ego, which if sought will automatically vanish.
4. Without consciousness, time and space do not exist; they appear within Consciousness but have no reality of their own.
5. It is like a screen on which all this is cast as pictures and move as in a cinema show.
6. The Absolute Consciousness alone is our real nature.
7. Grace is within you; Grace is the Self.
8. Grace is not something to be acquired from others. If it is external, it is useless. All that is necessary is to know its existence in you.
9. You are never out of its operation.
10. The mind cannot seek the mind.
11. You ignore what is real and hold on to that which is unreal, then try to find what it is. You think you are the mind and, therefore, ask how it is to be controlled.
12. If the mind exists, it can be controlled, but it does not. Understand this by inquiry.
13. Seek the real, the Self.
14. The Eternal is not born nor does it die.
15. We confound appearance with Reality. Appearance carries its end in itself.
16. What is it that appears anew?
17. If you cannot find it, surrender unreservedly to the substratum of appearances; then Reality will be what remains.
18. Reality is simply loss of the ego.
19. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity.
20. Because the ego has no real existence, it will automatically vanish, and Reality will shine forth by itself in all its glory. This is the direct method.
21. All other methods retain the ego. In those paths so many doubts arise, and the eternal question remains to be tackled. But in this method the final question is the only one and is raised from the very beginning.
22. No practices (sadhanas) are even necessary for this quest.
23. Your duty is to Be, and not to be this or that.
24. “I am That I Am” sums up the whole truth; the method is summarized in “Be Still.”
25. The state we call Realization is simply being one’s self, not knowing anything or becoming anything.
26. If one has realized, one is that which alone is and which alone has always been. One cannot describe that state, but only be That. Of course, we loosely talk of Self-realization for want of a better term.
27. There is no help in changing your environment.
28. The obstacle is the mind, which must be overcome, whether at home or in the forest. If you can do it in the forest, why not in the home? Therefore, why change the environment?
29. The cause of misery is not in life without; it is within you as the ego.
30. You impose limitations upon yourself and then make a vain struggle to transcend them.
31. Why attribute to the happenings in life the cause of misery, which really lies within you? What happiness can you get from anything extraneous to yourself? When you get it, how long will it last?
32. The body itself is a thought.
33. Be as you really are.
34. There are no stages in Realization or degrees in Liberation.
35. There are no levels of Reality; there are only levels of experience for the individual.
36. If anything can be gained that was not present before, it can also be lost, whereas the Absolute is eternal, here and now.
37. It is not a matter of becoming but of Being.
38. Remain aware of yourself and all else will be known.
39. One comes into existence for a certain purpose.
40. That purpose will be accomplished whether one considers oneself the actor or not.
41. Everything is predetermined.
42. But one is always free not to identify oneself with the body and not to be affected by the pleasure and pain associated with its activities.
43. Engage yourself in the living present. The future will take care of itself.
44. Find out who is subject to free will or predestination and abide in that state.
45. Then both are transcended. That is the only purpose in discussing these questions. To whom do such questions present themselves?
46. Discover that and be at peace.
47. Your true nature is that of infinite spirit.
48. The feeling of limitation is the work of the mind.
49. When the mind unceasingly investigates its own nature, it transpires that there is no such thing as mind.
50. This is the direct path for all.
51. If one inquires as to where in the body the thought “I” first rises, one would discover that it rises in the heart; that is the place of the mind’s origin.
52. Grace is always present.
53. You imagine it is something somewhere high in the sky, far away, and has to descend. It is really inside you, in your Heart, and the moment you effect subsidence or merger of the mind into its Source, grace rushes forth, sprouting as from a spring within you.
54. You speak as if you are here, and the Self is somewhere else and you had to go and reach it…
55. …But in fact the Self is here and now, and you are always It.
56. It is like being here and asking people the way to the ashram, then complaining that each one shows a different path and asking which to follow.
57. The realized person weeps with the weeping, laughs with the laughing, plays with the playful, sings with those who sing, keeping time to the song.
58. What does he lose?
59. His presence is like a pure, transparent mirror. It reflects our image exactly as we are. It is we who play the several parts in life and reap the fruits of our actions. How is the mirror or the stand on which it is mounted affected? Nothing affects them, as they are mere supports.
60. The Consciousness of “I” is the subject of all of our actions.
61. Inquiring into the true nature of that Consciousness and remaining as oneself is the way to understand one’s true nature.
62. All that is required to realize the Self is to Be Still.
63. What can be easier than that?
64. If one gains the Peace of the Self, it will spread without any effort on the part of the individual.
65. When one is not peaceful, oneself, how can one spread peace in the world?
66. Unless one is happy, one cannot bestow happiness on others.
67. Happiness is born of Peace and can reign only when there is no disturbance. Disturbance is due to thoughts, which arise in the mind. When the mind is absent there will be perfect Peace.
68. Reality lies beyond the mind.
69. So long as the mind functions, there is duality. Once it is transcended, Reality shines forth.
70. Self-effulgence is the Self.
71. Satsang means association (sanga) with Being (Sat), which is the Self.
72. For whom is association?
73. The ultimate truth is so simple; it is nothing more than being in one’s natural, original state.
74. It is a great wonder that to teach such a simple truth a number of religions should be necessary, and so many disputes should go on between them as to which is the God-ordained teaching. What a pity!
75. Just be the Self, that is all.
76. Because people want something elaborate and mysterious, so many religions have come into existence. Only those who are mature can understand the matter in its naked simplicity.
77. There is neither past nor future; there is only the present.
78. Yesterday was the present when you experienced it; tomorrow will also be the present when you experience it.
79. Therefore, experience takes place only in the present, and beyond and apart from experience nothing exists.
80. Even the present is mere imagination, for the sense of time is purely mental.
81. Because people love mystery and not the truth, religions cater to them, eventually bringing them around to the Self.
82. Whatever be the means adopted, you must at last return to the Self; so why not abide in the Self here and now?
83. There is no greater mystery than this: Being Reality ourselves, we seek to gain Reality.
84. We think that there is something hiding Reality and that it must be destroyed before the truth is gained. This is clearly ridiculous.
85. A day will dawn when you will laugh at your past efforts. What you realize on the day you laugh is also here and now.
86. If we look upon the Self as the ego, we become the ego, if as the mind we become the mind, if as the body we become the body.
87. It is thought that builds up layers in so many ways.
88. Take no notice of the ego and its activities but see only the light behind it.
89. The ego is the “I”-thought.
90. The true “I” is the Self.
91. The world does not exist in sleep and forms a projection of your mind in the waking state. It is therefore an idea and nothing else.
92. It is false to speak of Realization; what is there to realize?
93. The real is ever as it is.
94. All that is required is to cease regarding as real that which is unreal. That is all we need to attain wisdom (jnana).
95. The universe is only an object created by the mind and has its being in the mind. It cannot be measured as an external entity.
96. The world phenomena, within or without, are only fleeting and are not independent of our Self.
97. Only the habit of looking at them as real and located outside ourselves is responsible for hiding our pure Being.
98. When the ever-present sole Reality, the Self, is found, all other unreal things will disappear, leaving behind the knowledge that they are not other than the Self.
99. Either surrender because you realize your inability and need a higher power to help you, or investigate the cause of misery.
100. The Divine never forsakes one who has surrendered.

Taken above quotes courtesy of:
The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi
Edited by Matthew Greenblatt

Wow, I'm still on tour!!! So far, I've performed at 13 major music festivals in seven states, coast-to-coast since the Wave Gathering in Asbury Park, last May. There have also been numerous stand-alone gigs along the more than 12,000 miles of extraordinary adventure. The shows have been hyper-well recieved, and the CD has been selling great!! I am feeling so good about the plans to record the new one this upcoming winter. Oh, and the super-comfy tour van is running perfectly AND I'm finding it very simple and easy to eat 100% organic raw on the road. Have I mentioned yet that I am having the best year ever?!!

Today I'm in Marfa, Texas, a surprisingly hip, small town in the far western region of the lone star state. (look it up) :-) Tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 21st, 2007, You can catch up with me on a live-streaming, Marfa Public Radio performance and interview.
east coast time=Twelve Noon -->www.marfapublicradio.org<--

Tune to 93.5FM, if you are within broadcast range.

Well, my intention to blog each day of this journey was sidetracked by the magnetude of stuff to do, see and hear, here. These multi-day music festivals are inherently over-stimulating. Its taken me these past days to adapt and get the lay of the land (ie: locate good power and wifi). Of course, there's also the the lovely but time consuming social scene. Many people here know me and it's good to reconnect and visit along the paths. Catching up on old friends' new exploits is irresistable and fun. And, there are also hundreds of potential new contacts everywhere I look. Oh yeah, sleeping and eating must also be attended to.

Then there's the actual logistics of performing a song or two; the multitude of opportunities to play for people are in flux every minute. So, after cruising the bike rig around the festival, say, in the early afternoon, a likely spot will present itself. 1)shady, 2)populated, and 3) momentarily without some other singer/songwriter doing their thing = the key attributes to scout. Once located, I breakout my gear to play. It can be a tough crowd. There's plenty of other options near at hand. And most of the people are players themselves who have been listening to other live musicians nearly 24/7 for over a week. They're physically and aurally fatigued. It helps that my style is on the smoother and softer side; soothing to the ear.

I cast my spell. Often enough, the magic is undeniable. Othertimes, the response appears to be indifference. That's fine, too. Some rejection is part of the equation in this game. Kinda like in sports, this is about percentages. I remind my ego that no one bats a thousand. But...(continuing the baseball metaphor), it sure feels good to connect and sail one out of the park. Which is what happened this afternoon for a great one hour set!!! Yay!!!

Arrived at the 36th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival yesterday, just before sunset. After parking, I unloaded and set up my bike trailer/chariot and entered the festival grounds. The chariot immediately gathered positive attention and the first staff person I spoke with (a total stranger), so admired the ingenuity of it's concept and design that he offered me a guest pass on the spot, good for the rest of the event! I accepted it and quietly took that as another good sign.

The vibe here is outstanding. I'm now glad I arrived a few days after I'd initially planned. The site is recovering from ten inches, plus, of rain since the festival started. There are many stuck cars, axle deep in the muddy hayfield that doubles for event parking.

The breeze in this valley is currently a steady 20 mph. I like it for now.

Texas --> Drove to S.W. of Dallas last night and parked underneath an ancient grove of Live Oak trees in a picnic area just off Hwy 67 ~ slept well ~ awoke to dark cloudy skies thunderously rumbling ~ prepared to drive and drove. Rain fell for 50 miles. A very wet spring and an even wetter early summer has filled all the ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers and ditches hereabouts. The land is jammed with fantastic wild flowers.

Stopped for fuel in Lampassas and was overjoyed to get a good variety of extremely fresh, organic produce at the grocery store. Feels good here.

Catherine Lake State Park---> Pulled in to an "all full" park late in the dark, but the night ranger had mercy and escorted me to the overflow camping lot. Slept soundly and arose next to a beautiful sunrise over an Ozark mt. lake. Steps away from the van was an outdoor amphitheater with a large plank stage and benches for 150. At that hour it was mine alone. Perfect fora morning yoga session in the green shade of trees in early summer. Perfect also for pulling out my Gibson and singing a long set of songs. A White Tail doe walked out of the trees very close by and spent some moments listening. Having earlier removed my Croc's,I needed to invite a red hornet to begin making it's new home somewhere else, before putting them back on my feet. Thankfully, it left with little argument. (More later... the battery icon is flashing and I don't want to have to retype this entry...) check back again ...

OK back now...State parks are great for showers, and after mine, I sat on a rock overhang above the lake taking in the sight of several dozen swimmers, sunbathers and BBQ picnicers doing a classic memorial day under a blue sky. I'll be driving to Texas
today.

-->Early morning at The Cross-eyed Cricket campground near Knoxville, Tenn. -->

Traveling yesterday, I discovered a rustic, riverside park along a highway and pulled over for a music break. Over a few hours, I ran through some material next to a small set of broken rapids. Accross the clear, emerald water a herd of black cows were lolling in the shade and wading in the shallows. I think that they were as thankful for the tunes as I was for the perception that allowed me to somehow know that this would be the spot to pull off the road and jam with the elements.

Later, while driving down I-85 south, a feeling welled up and smiled out through the windshield, that I am now as free as a man can be; traveling where I wish; optimally supported in the joyous fulfillment of my true purpose.

--> Mid afternoon --> mid-way between Nasheville and Memphis:

Feels like it's so worth taking this summer journey... nothing really to lose, and a whole lot to gain. I just may be the luckiest guy in the world today.

Awoke in the van at a W. Virginia welcome area. Took a walk up a hill and found a beautifully kept picnic zone amongst tall tree shade. Amazingly, I had it all to myself. I chose the highest , furthest, concrete table upon which to unroll my camping pad and commence yoga.

Afterwards, I returned to the porta-kitchen in the center of the van and set up the first and second raw meals of the day, to be easily eaten while driving.

Scanning the radio frequencies --> Lots of country hereabouts and gospel, too, with classic rockers here and there for good measure.

One old-time-piano-gospel song had the refrain: "Think of that, think of that" --> Asking the listener to reflect on what their life would be like in the absence of the love and grace of the Creator. A simple seeming request, that could actually start some trouble if taken to heart by the more dogmatic among true believers. Sort a Christian version of a Zen koan --> unsolvable by the intellect yet highly valuble when explored from the awareness beyond mind.

Walt Whitman Rest Area - NJ Turnpike -->

Sometime in the afternoon on a fine, sun-windy day - South bound; pulling over to note directions & rt. and let it sink in a little bit more that this journey has truly begun. . .
Inside the foyer of the food mall here is framed and mounted on the wall a photo and bio of Mr. Whitman. Seems he was, among his myriad other interests, into a socio-political movement calling itself "Free-Soil". I'll google that when next online w/ a spare five minutes...Not today though, as I've some miles to put behind me.

Feedbag Records, my wonderful but miniscule label, believes in me a lot and has funded the purchase of a tour van, fuel, merch., and per diem expenses for me to hit the road on a solo 100 day national music festival tour. I'll be equipped with a small (but excellent) rechargeable, battery powered PA system and a state-of-the-art, point-of-purchase CD marketing display, that includes free promo cards. This will be set up on my bike trailer to be strategically located in optimal performing spots.

I am not officially booked at most of the festivals I'll be working at this summer.
Having been to all these festivals before, I know that most of the "magic" happens outside the realm of the "official" booked talent. That's the world I intend to be in on this tour, with the mission to: 1) play in front of as many people as possible; 2) sell as many CD's as possible; 3) hand out as many promo cards and stickers with my name, picture and myspace address on 'em as possible; 4) network with as many industry folks and as possible; 5) grow my fan base as much as possible; 6) and have as much fun as possible!!

So, my fans, know that I'll be carrying you in my heart and being grateful for your well wishes and positive vibes!