Awareness of Being Shines as 'I Am'

In this meditation, we explore being aware of being aware, our most intimate and familiar experience. Whilst we are always aware of our being, awareness is frequently outshone by objective experiences such as thoughts, feelings and sensations. Awareness of being is more subtle and more silent than our awareness of breathing. Just as we immediately become aware of breathing when prompted to, likewise as we draw our attention to our being, we become aware of that which is aware, or awareness itself. Awareness of being does not require a practice, method or discipline. It shines in all our minds as 'I am'. We consider the possibility that what we essentially are is the being that everyone is.

A man asks if animals recognise their true nature and says that his Buddhist background teaches that only human beings go through this process of recognition. Rupert responds that it is not human beings nor animals that recognise their true nature but that it is awareness itself that recognises true being.

A Buddhist asks if there are different realms of being. Rupert suggests that there are deep layers of the psyche not available to the waking-state mind.

A man has intense symptoms in his body and mind that scream for attention. Rupert suggests that he refrain from yoga meditations for a while and find a form of physical exercise instead.

After realisation, a woman says she is in conflict with her role in the family and feels that she should leave, but she doesn’t want to lose contact with them altogether. Rupert suggests that the non-dual understanding frequently makes relationships easier.

A woman says that she does not experience awareness in deep sleep and believes it is an illusion. Rupert suggests that, in deep sleep, there is not the absence of awareness, but the awareness of absence, our true being.

A woman, who is outraged by vaccine policies, says she feels like an outcast due to societal expectations. Rupert responds that he is not qualified to give medical advice, but he suggests that she not allow this conflict to veil her being.

A man says he is interested in the investigation of personality types that lie behind the mask, or persona, as a path to the non-dual realisation. Rupert agrees, but suggests it include the exploration of a mask over who or what.

A man asks how to remain in being when past issues with another person distract him. Rupert suggests contemplating the neutrality of the other.

A man says he wants to relieve his mind’s anxiety and asks about how he might learn to knowingly be. Rupert suggests that it is fine to just be knowingly, but resolution for his anxiety is not found in the mind.

A man says he is conflicted about how to reconcile human rights' atrocities with helping others. Rupert responds that it is possible to abhor the actions of others but still love their shared being.