Are There Degrees of Consciousness? from the media The Taste of Happiness

A woman asks about bodybuilding in the context of this understanding. Rupert suggests that if there is an egoic motivation for bodybuilding, then it will never satisfy the sense of lack and suggests a fast way, like self-enquiry.

A man asks if there are any concerns with following two similar paths at the same time. Rupert suggests that A Course in Miracles and this approach are similar, but there are some differences. It’s two different ways of languaging the same understanding. The main difference is that the Course speaks to the separate self.

A man asks about following the news while on this path. Rupert suggests that there is no implication of this understanding that dictates whether or not we follow the news. We can have a big ego and not listen to the news; we can have no ego and follow the news closely. That said, our sacred duty as a citizen is to explore our true nature, recognise that peace and happiness are the nature of our being, that we share our being with everyone and everything and lead a life in the community to the best of our ability.

A man, who shares his desire for a close relationship with a teacher, asks about this impetus. Rupert suggests that he wishes he could be close friends with everyone who comes to his retreats, in person and online.

A woman asks if we and the world are static or dynamic. Rupert suggests that what we essentially are is static, what we seem to be is dynamic. The screen never moves; the characters in the movie always move. Yet, they're the same thing. Always moving, never moving – that's where we are.

A man asks about the need to feel heard and seen, and what to do with it. Rupert suggests that the impulse to be heard and understood is the intuition that what we essentially are is one. This desire to be heard can also be appropriated by the ego to perpetuate itself. Find in yourself which of these two impulses is dominant. If both are present, just ignore the egoic impulse and emphasise the former.

A man asks about Rupert’s experience of breath during meditation. Rupert said that he is only subliminally aware of his breath during meditation.

A woman asks if humans are the only manifestation of a self-aware being. Rupert mentions one of his childhood dogs who he was sure was enlightened. Enlightenment is to be aware of our being. A human being isn't self-aware; only awareness is aware.

A woman shares that her elderly mother is struggling with fear and anxiety, and she herself is fearful about losing her mother. Rupert shares the story of his mother’s progression through dementia and adjusting to her living facility. Rupert also says that we mustn't bypass the feeling of loss when they go. It is the other side of love.

A man wonders if, with the understanding, King Lear and John Smith merge. Rupert suggests that it’s not so much that they merge as that the character becomes saturated with the qualities of being. When we experience a sense of lack, the sense of lack is our being calling us back to itself.

A woman asks about the idea that between two thoughts is deep sleep. Rupert suggests that when we are between two dreams, two thoughts, two images, two states, two feelings and perceptions, that is deep sleep. Actually, we are always asleep. We think that deep sleep is a state that alternates with other states. It underlies all states.

A man references Krishnamurti’s teaching, ‘I don't mind what happens’ but struggles when faced with choices and setting goals because of a fear of surrendering to flow. Rupert suggests that it’s fine to have goals. Just make sure they are in service of truth, understanding, love and beauty. Rupert shares his personal ambition to share the teaching with as many people as he can.

A man says that deep sleep feels like blackness. Rupert says that deep sleep isn't dark; it is the shining of being. If deep sleep was the annihilation of being, we would be terrified to go to sleep.

A woman shares how she is taking care of her nine-month old grandson and asks, ‘What are we doing here?’ Rupert suggests it is being’s nature to manifest. Once it has localised, a tension is set up in that being to relieve that tension and go back to its natural contraction. That is felt in a human being as the desire for happiness.

A man wonders if there is a way to keep the taste of happiness all the time. Rupert suggests that we resolve, once and for all, to say yes to our current experience. Then we have it all the time.

A woman asks if the light in a dream that allows you to see the dream is the light of consciousness. Rupert says it is. Our dream is known. Five minutes earlier we were aware of our waking state senses and perceptions. Whatever it was that was aware of our sensations and perceptions in the waking state, remains awake as we fall asleep, and is now aware of our thoughts and images in the dream state. In other words, consciousness never sleeps.

A man asks if it’s actually easy to say yes to all experience. Rupert suggests that it is easy. It is not even necessary to make an effort because it is the nature of awareness, of being, to do so. Rupert leads him experientially through the experience of saying yes by showing that awareness cannot say no to anything.

A woman asks about bodybuilding in the context of this understanding. Rupert suggests that if there is an egoic motivation for bodybuilding, then it will never satisfy the sense of lack and suggests a fast way, like self-enquiry.

A man asks if there are any concerns with following two similar paths at the same time. Rupert suggests that A Course in Miracles and this approach are similar, but there are some differences. It’s two different ways of languaging the same understanding. The main difference is that the Course speaks to the separate self.

A man asks about following the news while on this path. Rupert suggests that there is no implication of this understanding that dictates whether or not we follow the news. We can have a big ego and not listen to the news; we can have no ego and follow the news closely. That said, our sacred duty as a citizen is to explore our true nature, recognise that peace and happiness are the nature of our being, that we share our being with everyone and everything and lead a life in the community to the best of our ability.

A man, who shares his desire for a close relationship with a teacher, asks about this impetus. Rupert suggests that he wishes he could be close friends with everyone who comes to his retreats, in person and online.

A woman asks if we and the world are static or dynamic. Rupert suggests that what we essentially are is static, what we seem to be is dynamic. The screen never moves; the characters in the movie always move. Yet, they're the same thing. Always moving, never moving – that's where we are.

A man asks about the need to feel heard and seen, and what to do with it. Rupert suggests that the impulse to be heard and understood is the intuition that what we essentially are is one. This desire to be heard can also be appropriated by the ego to perpetuate itself. Find in yourself which of these two impulses is dominant. If both are present, just ignore the egoic impulse and emphasise the former.

A man asks about Rupert’s experience of breath during meditation. Rupert said that he is only subliminally aware of his breath during meditation.

A woman asks if humans are the only manifestation of a self-aware being. Rupert mentions one of his childhood dogs who he was sure was enlightened. Enlightenment is to be aware of our being. A human being isn't self-aware; only awareness is aware.

A woman shares that her elderly mother is struggling with fear and anxiety, and she herself is fearful about losing her mother. Rupert shares the story of his mother’s progression through dementia and adjusting to her living facility. Rupert also says that we mustn't bypass the feeling of loss when they go. It is the other side of love.

A man wonders if, with the understanding, King Lear and John Smith merge. Rupert suggests that it’s not so much that they merge as that the character becomes saturated with the qualities of being. When we experience a sense of lack, the sense of lack is our being calling us back to itself.

A woman asks about the idea that between two thoughts is deep sleep. Rupert suggests that when we are between two dreams, two thoughts, two images, two states, two feelings and perceptions, that is deep sleep. Actually, we are always asleep. We think that deep sleep is a state that alternates with other states. It underlies all states.

A man references Krishnamurti’s teaching, ‘I don't mind what happens’ but struggles when faced with choices and setting goals because of a fear of surrendering to flow. Rupert suggests that it’s fine to have goals. Just make sure they are in service of truth, understanding, love and beauty. Rupert shares his personal ambition to share the teaching with as many people as he can.

A man says that deep sleep feels like blackness. Rupert says that deep sleep isn't dark; it is the shining of being. If deep sleep was the annihilation of being, we would be terrified to go to sleep.

A woman shares how she is taking care of her nine-month old grandson and asks, ‘What are we doing here?’ Rupert suggests it is being’s nature to manifest. Once it has localised, a tension is set up in that being to relieve that tension and go back to its natural contraction. That is felt in a human being as the desire for happiness.

A man wonders if there is a way to keep the taste of happiness all the time. Rupert suggests that we resolve, once and for all, to say yes to our current experience. Then we have it all the time.

A woman asks if the light in a dream that allows you to see the dream is the light of consciousness. Rupert says it is. Our dream is known. Five minutes earlier we were aware of our waking state senses and perceptions. Whatever it was that was aware of our sensations and perceptions in the waking state, remains awake as we fall asleep, and is now aware of our thoughts and images in the dream state. In other words, consciousness never sleeps.

A man asks if it’s actually easy to say yes to all experience. Rupert suggests that it is easy. It is not even necessary to make an effort because it is the nature of awareness, of being, to do so. Rupert leads him experientially through the experience of saying yes by showing that awareness cannot say no to anything.