Breath is a Transparent Object from the media In Love with the World
A man asks about focusing on the breath in meditation. Rupert suggests using the breath as a subtle, transparent object to help transition from the mind’s restlessness to pure awareness. He shares the Shankaracharya’s story of a servant who, needing constant tasks, is given a bamboo pole to climb, eventually resting at its base when exhausted. This illustrates the mind’s need for focus before settling into being.
- Duration: 8 minutes and 31 seconds
- Recorded on: Jul 10, 2024
- Event: Webinar – Wednesday, 10 July
‘I am’ is the constant factor in all changing experience, like the thread of a necklace that unites the colourful beads. It is the simple, intimate, obvious experience of being, the golden thread that runs through our life, unaffected by the quality or shape of the ‘beads’ of experience. Our being is prior to, independent of and underlies all experience, always shining quietly but brightly. We would only have to defend ourself against our feelings if they could hurt or stain us. Our being is never stained by experience. Our being is like a treasure in our heart, but we overlook this and go on a treasure hunt in the world. The real treasure, however, is not in the world, it’s in our being. That’s where the peace, joy and love lie.
A woman, grateful for the webinars and hoping to join a retreat, shares her insights about the nature of consciousness and lucid dreams. She asks about the distinction between the waking state and the dream state. Rupert suggests the waking state is a kind of dream. He explains that when we wake up from a nighttime dream, the dream usually ends, and we find ourselves in the waking state. However, when we wake up from the waking-state dream, the dream doesn’t necessarily end; it carries on for its allotted time.
A man discusses his conflict between waiting for a true relationship and allowing a friendship to develop into intimacy. Rupert advises that these perspectives are not in conflict. He suggests waiting patiently while also seeking companionship, advising the man to go for friendship first and ensure the that his desire for intimacy comes from a place of peace, not loneliness.
A man describes experiencing rapid facial jerks and a sense of being pulled into negativity, wondering if it’s Kundalini. Rupert explains these are old bodily tensions resurfacing due to deep self-exploration. He suggests gentle physical practices like yoga to ease these energies and encourages engaging in social activities to foster connection and avoid isolation.
A woman asks if any experience justifies losing the felt sense of being and how to prioritise returning to it. Rupert affirms it’s natural to be momentarily knocked out of this sense. He shares a personal anecdote of burning his fingers, and advises always making a priority of returning to being, whether the disruption lasts seconds or years.
A man discusses his fear of oneness and love for the variety in life. Rupert explains that true love dissolves the sense of separation. He reassures the man that being is not a lonely place to be, contrasting it with the loneliness of feeling like a separate self. Recognising our shared being is the remedy for loneliness.
A woman expresses her love for the world and the joy she finds in Rupert’s teachings, yet she struggles to integrate this understanding into her daily life. Rupert encourages her to act from her heart and share her insights with others, explaining that the ‘yes’ she feels and the opening of her heart is the universe’s way of telling her what is the right thing to do.
A man asks about focusing on the breath in meditation. Rupert suggests using the breath as a subtle, transparent object to help transition from the mind’s restlessness to pure awareness. He shares the Shankaracharya’s story of a servant who, needing constant tasks, is given a bamboo pole to climb, eventually resting at its base when exhausted. This illustrates the mind’s need for focus before settling into being.
A man shares his journey of finding unconditional happiness through Rupert’s teachings. Yet, meeting a new love stirs anxiety within him, causing him to doubt his worth and fear rejection. Rupert gently guides him, encouraging confidence in simply being and reminding him that love thrives not through performance but through the natural essence of one’s being.
Despite knowing there is only one awareness, a woman reports that she experiences three things: the feeling in her chest, the world, and herself knowing all of them. Rupert guides her to explore thinking, feeling, sensing and perceiving, showing they are all made only of knowing. He uses the Santa Claus metaphor, showing that the belief in separation dissolves upon seeing the truth.
A man expresses difficulty in meditation. He describes trying to find his being by focusing on sensations and thoughts, leading to tension in his head. Rupert advises that meditation should be a defocusing of attention, likening awareness to open space that is not focused anywhere.
‘I am’ is the constant factor in all changing experience, like the thread of a necklace that unites the colourful beads. It is the simple, intimate, obvious experience of being, the golden thread that runs through our life, unaffected by the quality or shape of the ‘beads’ of experience. Our being is prior to, independent of and underlies all experience, always shining quietly but brightly. We would only have to defend ourself against our feelings if they could hurt or stain us. Our being is never stained by experience. Our being is like a treasure in our heart, but we overlook this and go on a treasure hunt in the world. The real treasure, however, is not in the world, it’s in our being. That’s where the peace, joy and love lie.
A woman, grateful for the webinars and hoping to join a retreat, shares her insights about the nature of consciousness and lucid dreams. She asks about the distinction between the waking state and the dream state. Rupert suggests the waking state is a kind of dream. He explains that when we wake up from a nighttime dream, the dream usually ends, and we find ourselves in the waking state. However, when we wake up from the waking-state dream, the dream doesn’t necessarily end; it carries on for its allotted time.
A man discusses his conflict between waiting for a true relationship and allowing a friendship to develop into intimacy. Rupert advises that these perspectives are not in conflict. He suggests waiting patiently while also seeking companionship, advising the man to go for friendship first and ensure the that his desire for intimacy comes from a place of peace, not loneliness.
A man describes experiencing rapid facial jerks and a sense of being pulled into negativity, wondering if it’s Kundalini. Rupert explains these are old bodily tensions resurfacing due to deep self-exploration. He suggests gentle physical practices like yoga to ease these energies and encourages engaging in social activities to foster connection and avoid isolation.
A woman asks if any experience justifies losing the felt sense of being and how to prioritise returning to it. Rupert affirms it’s natural to be momentarily knocked out of this sense. He shares a personal anecdote of burning his fingers, and advises always making a priority of returning to being, whether the disruption lasts seconds or years.
A man discusses his fear of oneness and love for the variety in life. Rupert explains that true love dissolves the sense of separation. He reassures the man that being is not a lonely place to be, contrasting it with the loneliness of feeling like a separate self. Recognising our shared being is the remedy for loneliness.
A woman expresses her love for the world and the joy she finds in Rupert’s teachings, yet she struggles to integrate this understanding into her daily life. Rupert encourages her to act from her heart and share her insights with others, explaining that the ‘yes’ she feels and the opening of her heart is the universe’s way of telling her what is the right thing to do.
A man asks about focusing on the breath in meditation. Rupert suggests using the breath as a subtle, transparent object to help transition from the mind’s restlessness to pure awareness. He shares the Shankaracharya’s story of a servant who, needing constant tasks, is given a bamboo pole to climb, eventually resting at its base when exhausted. This illustrates the mind’s need for focus before settling into being.
A man shares his journey of finding unconditional happiness through Rupert’s teachings. Yet, meeting a new love stirs anxiety within him, causing him to doubt his worth and fear rejection. Rupert gently guides him, encouraging confidence in simply being and reminding him that love thrives not through performance but through the natural essence of one’s being.
Despite knowing there is only one awareness, a woman reports that she experiences three things: the feeling in her chest, the world, and herself knowing all of them. Rupert guides her to explore thinking, feeling, sensing and perceiving, showing they are all made only of knowing. He uses the Santa Claus metaphor, showing that the belief in separation dissolves upon seeing the truth.
A man expresses difficulty in meditation. He describes trying to find his being by focusing on sensations and thoughts, leading to tension in his head. Rupert advises that meditation should be a defocusing of attention, likening awareness to open space that is not focused anywhere.