Being is never endarkened by experience and, therefore, does not need to be enlightened by practice. Being may be concealed and revealed, forgotten and remembered, or ignored and recognised, but its nature never changes. Meditation or prayer is simply the means by which we recognise the transparency of our essential self.
The shining of being is not something we must achieve or attain – it is what we eternally are. In every moment of experience, whether pleasant or unpleasant, being is shining clearly, though it may seem mixed with the colours of experience, like water infused with tea or wine.
In this weekend exploration of Rupert’s latest book, The Shining of Being, we delve into the understanding that our essential nature of pure being can be recognised before it is qualified by the content of experience. The book reveals how the great spiritual approaches – the Progressive Path, the Direct Path, and the Pathless Path – all converge in simply being.
Through gentle contemplation, we come to see that the ‘I am’ that shines in the depths of our self is the same infinite being that is the reality of the world. We recognise that meditation is not something we do, but what we are – the natural resting in being, as being. This is the essence of all meditation and the heart of prayer.
Join Rupert and friends from around the world 12-14 December as we abide together in the transparency of our shared being, discovering that the peace and quiet joy we seek is not something to be acquired, but the very nature of what we already and always are. We taste the water in the wine, recognising the changeless presence that shines behind and in the midst of all experience.
The weekend will begin on Friday with a guided meditation. Then, on both Saturday and Sunday, there will be two guided meditations and a Q&A session, with breaks in-between. Details of the schedule are below.
For those who haven't attended an online retreat before, please enjoy this short film to give you a taste of what to expect:
Community
The retreat is a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded people around the world. There will be a private Facebook group just for event attendees, where you can meet each other and connect before the event. You may also wish to join one of the several Zoom rooms that will be open for a period of time after each session so you can chat, meditate or spend some time together.
Access
All you need to participate is a computer or a mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone, with a built-in speaker and access to the internet. The platform we use for the sessions is Zoom. Neil will walk you through the sign-in process, which is very simple, and he will email you with the invitation to join ahead of the weekend. All participants also receive audio and video links to stream the recordings of each session, and these will remain active for 30 days.
To optimise your retreat experience, we recommend a wired connection if possible. If you do use a Wi-Fi connection, close all or most other devices using the signal. For mobile devices, a 3G or higher connection is needed.
