He starts by recounting some of the experiences from childhood and early adulthood that led him towards a spiritual path. This leads to a discussion about how the longing for God can be reconciled with the Direct Path. As long as those on a devotional path retain their idea of God, they will be subtly maintaining a feeling of being a separate self.
Rupert explains that the infinite cannot know the finite and uses the analogy of a dream to illustrate how the experience of an apparent multiplicity of limited forms can arise out of infinite, undivided consciousness. Each of our minds is a localised perspective of infinite consciousness. Consciousness is continuous, and what we call deep sleep is simply the absence of awareness of objects.
Rupert describes three, usually overlapping, stages of the Direct Path: first, people might have a spontaneous glimpse of their true nature that arises suddenly and unexpectedly; then there is a longer process of establishing oneself as that; finally, there is the never-ending process of realigning experience with that established non-dual understanding.
There follows a discussion on the differences between the Direct Path and progressive paths, and the role of ethics in the Direct Path.
The podcast ends with a conversation about the role of a teacher. In the Direct Path approach, there can be no hierarchy. The role of a teacher is to be a friend who helps us find our way back to peace and happiness. Rupert’s aim is to make the simple, easy, direct approach that he teaches available to anyone who wants it, by every available means.
You can listen to this episode on the Rupert Spira Podcast.
https://rupertspira.libsyn.com/episode-12-the-mystical-positivist
If you liked this, why don't you take a look at Rupert's conversation with The Krishnamurti Educational Center
