How Language Shapes Our Perception from the media What If Everyone Shared This Understanding?
A man says he was moved by the animation of Rupert's new book, 'I Am Always I' and would like to translate it to Turkish. He speaks of the difficulty of translating these ideas, and how language shapes our perception of the world. Rupert responds that language abstracts parts from the whole and we look at reality through those names, as if they're really as they appear. We look at reality through the lens of perception and conception, but we forget, and think we're seeing clearly. We believe we are experiencing discrete objects, yet they've been abstracted by thought and perception.
- Duration: 7 minutes and 4 seconds
- Recorded on: Jun 9, 2023
- Event: Seven Day Retreat at The Vedanta – 3rd to 10th June 2023
A man asks about the state of the world and wonders what it would be like if everyone shared the understanding. Rupert says that all he needs to do is look around the room at the retreat to see what it would be like – this quality of friendship and community.
A man, who is also a teacher, expresses the need for a middle ground in applying the understanding to his teaching. Rupert suggests that the man bring what he has learned at the retreat and apply it to his form of teaching at home. If students are showing up at your meetings, they are ready.
A man, whose kids are growing up, shares that he is considering cashing in on a comfortable life to open a teaching centre. But he has visions of being a ‘rock star’, so he's trying to balance all these circumstances with a sense of lack. Rupert suggests ignoring the sense of lack and the need to be a rock star. Ignore both and do what you love. Surround yourself with those who can and will support you.
A man references some of Rupert’s past meditations. Rupert rephrases the quote the man read as, ‘All there is to our experience of the world is perception and all there is to perception is knowing’. The reality of the world that exists outside of the finite mind is consciousness, not matter.
A man says he understands the consciousness-only model but he doesn't see or feel it. Rupert suggests he upgrade his assumption that the universe appears as matter. Test it out. It will become your new norm.
A man, who has been searching for fifty-five years, says he misses the beginner’s mind. Rupert suggests that the beginner’s mind is the natural state before it is conditioned. What is the nature of our minds if we remove everything we have acquired from the content of experience? It is the natural condition.
A man shares that he and his wife are on different paths, which creates a conflict sometimes. Rupert says that of the two of them, he has the greater understanding, so it is on him to live the understanding that is inherent in all paths.
A woman asks, ‘What is physical pain?’ Rupert responds that it is an intense sensation. She says she is trying to deconstruct her experience of pain. Rupert responds that it is natural to want to get rid of pain. It is part of the body's intelligence, a sign to take care of it. It is to the body what mental suffering is to the mind.
A woman asks who Rupert is referring to when he says that the universe will support us. Rupert says that if the work arises as an expression of love and understanding, the universe will appear to us in a way that is tailored to our particular project or work. The belief in a creator God or universe is predicated on the assumption that we are a separate self.
A man says he was moved by the animation of Rupert's new book, 'I Am Always I' and would like to translate it to Turkish. He speaks of the difficulty of translating these ideas, and how language shapes our perception of the world. Rupert responds that language abstracts parts from the whole and we look at reality through those names, as if they're really as they appear. We look at reality through the lens of perception and conception, but we forget, and think we're seeing clearly. We believe we are experiencing discrete objects, yet they've been abstracted by thought and perception.
A man asks if we are all thoughtforms in God's mind. Rupert suggests that we are and then references the Mary and Jane metaphor to elaborate, in which Mary is Jane’s God.
A man asks if it is such a big leap to think that God is both finite and infinite. Rupert uses the Mary and Jane metaphor to demonstrate that there are no ‘finite things’ in the dream of Jane. There is only Mary’s mind appearing as people and things, so God knows nothing of them.
Rupert expounds on the definition of words, referencing how the philosopher Bernardo Kastrup uses the words 'idealism' and 'mind'.
A man asks if it is such a big leap to think that God can know and create things. Rupert says God is not sitting above and beyond the universe. The only way God can have a finite experience is through the finite mind. Prior to that, God knows nothing, so it is not orchestrating anything.
A man asks about the word ‘authentic' because he is realising how much he seeks approval and how ridiculous that is. Rupert uses the analogy of John Smith and King Lear. He then cites how many questions there have been this week, and how this is the most authentic one.
A woman, who says her son understands the teaching but can’t live it, shares she is leery of going home and asks about how to help vulnerable people. Rupert suggests that one of the most difficult things for a mother to do is to release her son. Despite the fact that he depends on her for care, he suggests she needs to release him emotionally.
A man asks about the state of the world and wonders what it would be like if everyone shared the understanding. Rupert says that all he needs to do is look around the room at the retreat to see what it would be like – this quality of friendship and community.
A man, who is also a teacher, expresses the need for a middle ground in applying the understanding to his teaching. Rupert suggests that the man bring what he has learned at the retreat and apply it to his form of teaching at home. If students are showing up at your meetings, they are ready.
A man, whose kids are growing up, shares that he is considering cashing in on a comfortable life to open a teaching centre. But he has visions of being a ‘rock star’, so he's trying to balance all these circumstances with a sense of lack. Rupert suggests ignoring the sense of lack and the need to be a rock star. Ignore both and do what you love. Surround yourself with those who can and will support you.
A man references some of Rupert’s past meditations. Rupert rephrases the quote the man read as, ‘All there is to our experience of the world is perception and all there is to perception is knowing’. The reality of the world that exists outside of the finite mind is consciousness, not matter.
A man says he understands the consciousness-only model but he doesn't see or feel it. Rupert suggests he upgrade his assumption that the universe appears as matter. Test it out. It will become your new norm.
A man, who has been searching for fifty-five years, says he misses the beginner’s mind. Rupert suggests that the beginner’s mind is the natural state before it is conditioned. What is the nature of our minds if we remove everything we have acquired from the content of experience? It is the natural condition.
A man shares that he and his wife are on different paths, which creates a conflict sometimes. Rupert says that of the two of them, he has the greater understanding, so it is on him to live the understanding that is inherent in all paths.
A woman asks, ‘What is physical pain?’ Rupert responds that it is an intense sensation. She says she is trying to deconstruct her experience of pain. Rupert responds that it is natural to want to get rid of pain. It is part of the body's intelligence, a sign to take care of it. It is to the body what mental suffering is to the mind.
A woman asks who Rupert is referring to when he says that the universe will support us. Rupert says that if the work arises as an expression of love and understanding, the universe will appear to us in a way that is tailored to our particular project or work. The belief in a creator God or universe is predicated on the assumption that we are a separate self.
A man says he was moved by the animation of Rupert's new book, 'I Am Always I' and would like to translate it to Turkish. He speaks of the difficulty of translating these ideas, and how language shapes our perception of the world. Rupert responds that language abstracts parts from the whole and we look at reality through those names, as if they're really as they appear. We look at reality through the lens of perception and conception, but we forget, and think we're seeing clearly. We believe we are experiencing discrete objects, yet they've been abstracted by thought and perception.
A man asks if we are all thoughtforms in God's mind. Rupert suggests that we are and then references the Mary and Jane metaphor to elaborate, in which Mary is Jane’s God.
A man asks if it is such a big leap to think that God is both finite and infinite. Rupert uses the Mary and Jane metaphor to demonstrate that there are no ‘finite things’ in the dream of Jane. There is only Mary’s mind appearing as people and things, so God knows nothing of them.
Rupert expounds on the definition of words, referencing how the philosopher Bernardo Kastrup uses the words 'idealism' and 'mind'.
A man asks if it is such a big leap to think that God can know and create things. Rupert says God is not sitting above and beyond the universe. The only way God can have a finite experience is through the finite mind. Prior to that, God knows nothing, so it is not orchestrating anything.
A man asks about the word ‘authentic' because he is realising how much he seeks approval and how ridiculous that is. Rupert uses the analogy of John Smith and King Lear. He then cites how many questions there have been this week, and how this is the most authentic one.
A woman, who says her son understands the teaching but can’t live it, shares she is leery of going home and asks about how to help vulnerable people. Rupert suggests that one of the most difficult things for a mother to do is to release her son. Despite the fact that he depends on her for care, he suggests she needs to release him emotionally.