Enlightenment and Pre-Conceived Ideas

Enlightenment and the Enlightenment Intensive, Volume 2
Chapter 7, Levels of Enlightenment and Advice
Charles Berner
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492263281

“I need to remind you of one other thing:  preconceived ideas.  What happens is you not only get a preconceived idea of what Truth is but also of what enlightenment is like and you then try to have that happen.  You try to reach that state.  You try to become enlightened, which means you try to fulfil this image that you have, this concept that you have in your head of what enlightenment is like.  

If you have any preconceived ideas that you are trying to fit yourself into, forget it.  Set it aside.  Just be open.  Don’t try to fulfil any teaching, including mine and even your own. If you turn out to be all wrong, then you are all wrong.  So what?  At least you now know the Truth.  Do you want to be wrong forever?  You will be unless you choose to open up.  

On the other hand, many of you have studied very wise teachings which are correct.  But set them aside also because a teaching, even if it is correct is not the Truth itself.  What I am telling you right now is not the Truth.  It is about the Truth.  What I am saying is true, but is not the Truth.  The Truth itself is available to you only if you will set aside your preconceived ideas.  

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Preconceived ideas and ego go hand-in-hand.  They’re partners and ego-death does not occur unless one has let go of his own preconceived ideas and just laid himself bare and become exposed to whatever the Truth may be.  I know you are a little bit scared of the Truth and afraid of the unknown.  And yet when you get there you will experience for yourself the indescribable fulfilment which accompanies a direct experience of Truth.”
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Enlightenment and the Enlightenment Intensive, Volume 2
Charles Berner
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492263281