What Are Thoughts? from the media Everything Exists Now
A woman asks, 'What are thoughts?' Rupert suggests they are a series of abstract sounds that we have, by association, agreed to refer to as concepts. An object/thought is a cut in the flow. Language is the means by which we divide up the one reality. In fact, language extracts objects from the streamless whole. We don’t think about an object because it seems to exist; the object seems to exist because we think about it.
- Duration: 6 minutes and 50 seconds
- Recorded on: Apr 1, 2023
- Event: Seven Day Retreat at Garrison Institute – 26th March to 2nd April
A man recounts a metaphor Rupert previously used about a book. Rupert reiterates that consciousness is a dimensionless point of infinite possibilities and the book is an expansion of those infinite possibilities. He then clarifies how thinking and perceiving draw out different appearances from this dimensionless point. Everything exists now in a way our finite minds can't understand.
A man asks about our tendency to keep seeing things as separate things because we use nouns. Rupert suggests that verbs would be best. In the new language of non-duality, there will be only verbs.
A man wonders about why Rupert keeps using King Lear as a metaphor as opposed to Macbeth, for instance. He then explains how he came to understand how perfect King Lear is for the task. Rupert thanks him for his exposition of King Lear.
A man talks about the ‘old system’ of his running thoughts. Rupert says that when he has a thought, investigate the one of whose behalf it arises. On behalf of truth, love or the body are all fine. But if it arises on behalf of a temporary, finite self then investigate those thoughts. Only one thought comes at a time.
A man thanks the community and the sharing of love and connection of the oneness he has felt. He said he understood that what we are looking for is within, but he now knows it. He talks about sinking into the ‘I am’. Rupert affirms that he stay with that and peace will take care of the inner life and love will take care of the outer life.
A woman wants to understand the mind, thoughts and language better. Rupert suggests that the nature or essence of anything is that aspect of it that cannot be removed, so the nature of mind is consciousness. Langage is a conditioning of the mind, its structure through which it perceives and refracts itself. Language divides and diversifies.
A woman asks, 'What are thoughts?' Rupert suggests they are a series of abstract sounds that we have, by association, agreed to refer to as concepts. An object/thought is a cut in the flow. Language is the means by which we divide up the one reality. In fact, language extracts objects from the streamless whole. We don’t think about an object because it seems to exist; the object seems to exist because we think about it.
A woman talks about her habit of self-dismissal. Rupert suggests that she doesn't have to work through or overcome self-dismissal. All that it is necessary is to recognise what it truly meant by the self. If you do that, it will just leave you. Working on it is managing it, but if you want to be free of the agony of it, the only remedy is to recognise what is meant by self.
A woman talks about her experience of oneness. Rupert affirms that the idea of birth and death is rather primitive. It is only once thought abstracts an object – the glass, for instance – that we talk about beginnings and endings. The same is true of a person. Ultimately, we value objects and people more with this understanding.
A man shares his confusion about investigating thoughts. Rupert suggests that many approaches dismiss thinking. We don't here. The only aspect that is problematic is that which arises on behalf of the finite self. Regarding thoughts about love's heartbreak, Rupert suggests that we have to suffer those. It’s part of the makeup of a mind and a body. We can look for the hurt self; we will never find it.
A man shares that when he lost his eyesight, he lost his sense of worth. He wonders if he should grieve his blindness. Rupert suggests that what he lost in sight, he gained in love, in sweetness.
A man shares his experience of hearing Rupert’s words. Rupert suggests that the words take him to an experience. As a result of that, you say it is beautiful. It’s your true nature. The body expresses its relaxation, relieved of the tension of separation, with laughter and tears.
Rupert confesses to Mani (who he lovingly calls ‘Grumpy’) that he asked ChatGPT about him. He reads the poem it produced.
A man says that he used to help others so that God will grant him peace. Rupert says that previously you did this, but now peace and love start the action. Love is the feeling of shared being. You help them because you feel God’s love in your heart and this is the natural expression of that. Anything that comes from or goes towards God is your utmost highest.
A woman asks about how to balance emotions as she goes into the world. Rupert suggests that being can’t be hurt. When we are faced with something that is potentially hurtful and an emotion is provoked by it, we step back to our being. The emotion then cannot stand.
A woman shares an experience in meditation of another life coming to her mind. She also references her realisation that she is not thinking her thoughts, they just come. Where do thoughts come from? Rupert suggests that the separate self is, itself, a thought. Just as thought abstracts an object from the flow, so it does with the separate self. It is created or imagined through thinking. A thought is just what consciousness looks like through a finite mind.
A woman shares how she feels that there’s been a flip in the dreaming and waking state on retreat. Rupert suggests that the energy of the retreat expresses itself in many ways. Take it as an opportunity to rest in being or learn poetry.
A man asks Rupert if speaking in public about the understanding deepened his understanding. Rupert says that he had the erroneous idea that if one were to speak about these things then one would have to know it and then disseminate. In fact, the community of friends have literally extracted the teaching from him. Daily, he thinks and says things he hasn't thought before. Therefore, the teaching is alive. It is created by this interaction. Many of the questions that were asked were not questions that he asked himself as he found his way from the forest.
A woman asks about what to do for practice when she goes home. Rupert suggests that being lies behind the content of experience so, from time to time, step back and watch it as if watching a movie. Rest there in being. It can be ‘meditation’ but it can also be two-minutes between emails and chores. Then, there are times when our attention is required by the content of experience. However, our being is equally available there. That which is aware is always at peace.
A man recounts a metaphor Rupert previously used about a book. Rupert reiterates that consciousness is a dimensionless point of infinite possibilities and the book is an expansion of those infinite possibilities. He then clarifies how thinking and perceiving draw out different appearances from this dimensionless point. Everything exists now in a way our finite minds can't understand.
A man asks about our tendency to keep seeing things as separate things because we use nouns. Rupert suggests that verbs would be best. In the new language of non-duality, there will be only verbs.
A man wonders about why Rupert keeps using King Lear as a metaphor as opposed to Macbeth, for instance. He then explains how he came to understand how perfect King Lear is for the task. Rupert thanks him for his exposition of King Lear.
A man talks about the ‘old system’ of his running thoughts. Rupert says that when he has a thought, investigate the one of whose behalf it arises. On behalf of truth, love or the body are all fine. But if it arises on behalf of a temporary, finite self then investigate those thoughts. Only one thought comes at a time.
A man thanks the community and the sharing of love and connection of the oneness he has felt. He said he understood that what we are looking for is within, but he now knows it. He talks about sinking into the ‘I am’. Rupert affirms that he stay with that and peace will take care of the inner life and love will take care of the outer life.
A woman wants to understand the mind, thoughts and language better. Rupert suggests that the nature or essence of anything is that aspect of it that cannot be removed, so the nature of mind is consciousness. Langage is a conditioning of the mind, its structure through which it perceives and refracts itself. Language divides and diversifies.
A woman asks, 'What are thoughts?' Rupert suggests they are a series of abstract sounds that we have, by association, agreed to refer to as concepts. An object/thought is a cut in the flow. Language is the means by which we divide up the one reality. In fact, language extracts objects from the streamless whole. We don’t think about an object because it seems to exist; the object seems to exist because we think about it.
A woman talks about her habit of self-dismissal. Rupert suggests that she doesn't have to work through or overcome self-dismissal. All that it is necessary is to recognise what it truly meant by the self. If you do that, it will just leave you. Working on it is managing it, but if you want to be free of the agony of it, the only remedy is to recognise what is meant by self.
A woman talks about her experience of oneness. Rupert affirms that the idea of birth and death is rather primitive. It is only once thought abstracts an object – the glass, for instance – that we talk about beginnings and endings. The same is true of a person. Ultimately, we value objects and people more with this understanding.
A man shares his confusion about investigating thoughts. Rupert suggests that many approaches dismiss thinking. We don't here. The only aspect that is problematic is that which arises on behalf of the finite self. Regarding thoughts about love's heartbreak, Rupert suggests that we have to suffer those. It’s part of the makeup of a mind and a body. We can look for the hurt self; we will never find it.
A man shares that when he lost his eyesight, he lost his sense of worth. He wonders if he should grieve his blindness. Rupert suggests that what he lost in sight, he gained in love, in sweetness.
A man shares his experience of hearing Rupert’s words. Rupert suggests that the words take him to an experience. As a result of that, you say it is beautiful. It’s your true nature. The body expresses its relaxation, relieved of the tension of separation, with laughter and tears.
Rupert confesses to Mani (who he lovingly calls ‘Grumpy’) that he asked ChatGPT about him. He reads the poem it produced.
A man says that he used to help others so that God will grant him peace. Rupert says that previously you did this, but now peace and love start the action. Love is the feeling of shared being. You help them because you feel God’s love in your heart and this is the natural expression of that. Anything that comes from or goes towards God is your utmost highest.
A woman asks about how to balance emotions as she goes into the world. Rupert suggests that being can’t be hurt. When we are faced with something that is potentially hurtful and an emotion is provoked by it, we step back to our being. The emotion then cannot stand.
A woman shares an experience in meditation of another life coming to her mind. She also references her realisation that she is not thinking her thoughts, they just come. Where do thoughts come from? Rupert suggests that the separate self is, itself, a thought. Just as thought abstracts an object from the flow, so it does with the separate self. It is created or imagined through thinking. A thought is just what consciousness looks like through a finite mind.
A woman shares how she feels that there’s been a flip in the dreaming and waking state on retreat. Rupert suggests that the energy of the retreat expresses itself in many ways. Take it as an opportunity to rest in being or learn poetry.
A man asks Rupert if speaking in public about the understanding deepened his understanding. Rupert says that he had the erroneous idea that if one were to speak about these things then one would have to know it and then disseminate. In fact, the community of friends have literally extracted the teaching from him. Daily, he thinks and says things he hasn't thought before. Therefore, the teaching is alive. It is created by this interaction. Many of the questions that were asked were not questions that he asked himself as he found his way from the forest.
A woman asks about what to do for practice when she goes home. Rupert suggests that being lies behind the content of experience so, from time to time, step back and watch it as if watching a movie. Rest there in being. It can be ‘meditation’ but it can also be two-minutes between emails and chores. Then, there are times when our attention is required by the content of experience. However, our being is equally available there. That which is aware is always at peace.