Love, Peace and Happiness from the media Love, Peace and Happiness

Silent meditation followed by expressions of gratitude for help during the retreat.

A woman asks about power and the need to protect herself as her heart opens. Rupert responds that she should not dismiss her impulse to protect. Obviously, it’s valid to protect yourself physically. And it is valid to want to protect the truth. And that sometimes means standing up and saying 'no'. If you feel you are protecting truth and love, then protect them. But be wary of protecting the separate self. Ultimately know that you cannot be hurt. There is a place in us that has never been wounded. Stand as that.

A woman thanks Rupert for enabling her to set herself free from the tyranny of the separate self. Rupert elaborates on the concept that a teacher should be our last disappointment and instead become a new friend.

A questioner, who is a musician, asks about music and hierarchical works of art. Rupert replies that there is a lot of disonance in Bach's work, created purposely to feel the tension build and then dissolve. He's reluctant to say that some music is more refined than others, but compositions of any kind appeal to different aspects of the listener. He encourages the questioner to keep on playing as he plays for the enjoyment of all.

A woman describes the experience of the feeling of oneness during a Beethoven sonata that was played the previous day. She asks how she can I allow that sensual feeling of oneness to blossom. Rupert suggests walking in nature. That would be a good place to start, because nature doesn't exist for any reason and easily evokes the feeling of connection. Make sure that every object in your home is beautiful. You develop a relationship with the objects.

Is it too grandiose to desire the feeling of oneness with all things? Rupert holds up a glass to illustrate that every object first is; it is and then it is qualified and added to by perception, by what the mind confers on the object. So no, it’s not too grandiose to imagine relating to objects in that way. The isness of the object is the same as the amness of our self. It is thought and perception that divide the two. And the recognition that the isness of the object is the same as the amness of our self is what we call beauty, while the recognition that the amness in another person is the same as the amness in us is what we call love.

Can you experience a feeling of love, knowing and oneness all at the same time? Rupert suggests that when you look at the face of the one you love, you're not really loving their face but who they really are. The same can be said for objects in that seeing the objects can take you to the same place, seeing the face of God.

A woman says she still feels like there is something she should do, and also that she doesn't need Rupert any more. Rupert suggests that she has changed so much over the years and tells her, just trust that you're being taken care of. It's happening, it's obvious that its happening. Trust that unfolding.

A man asks about the unknown, which he feels has been debunked – is there anything left to be unknown? Rupert responds that he is on the right track with this enquiry. The idea that reality is unknown belongs to a lesser stage of understanding. If we think that objects are objects and people are people, then reality appears to be a mystery. In this understanding, we see all these as appearances of the one reality. There are not two things.

A woman asks about Rupert's idea of spiritual friendship and how that relates to the notion that the age of the teacher is ending. Rupert suggests that he is a reluctant teacher, because being a teacher is not how he feels; rather, he feels he is a friend. Nor does he have any special knowledge. Specifically, it's the hierarchy that is ending, not the meetings and retreats.

A woman asks a question about the role of the community in the teaching. Rupert elaborates that people respond and express from their particular situations and skills. And he draws from that expression in his answers. The interaction is vital to the question and answer period. The retreats are an exceptional example of what that community looks like, the quality of love and creativity.

A woman elaborates further on the discussion of community, which she feels works because we all come with a sense of wholeness rather than a sense of need. And she also speaks of the unknowing that is simply part of life. Rupert responds that her description is very good, and he can't think of anything to add except the fact that there are some attendees whose paths won't cross again, but, of course, that is fine and natural.

Silent meditation followed by expressions of gratitude for help during the retreat.

A woman asks about power and the need to protect herself as her heart opens. Rupert responds that she should not dismiss her impulse to protect. Obviously, it’s valid to protect yourself physically. And it is valid to want to protect the truth. And that sometimes means standing up and saying 'no'. If you feel you are protecting truth and love, then protect them. But be wary of protecting the separate self. Ultimately know that you cannot be hurt. There is a place in us that has never been wounded. Stand as that.

A woman thanks Rupert for enabling her to set herself free from the tyranny of the separate self. Rupert elaborates on the concept that a teacher should be our last disappointment and instead become a new friend.

A questioner, who is a musician, asks about music and hierarchical works of art. Rupert replies that there is a lot of disonance in Bach's work, created purposely to feel the tension build and then dissolve. He's reluctant to say that some music is more refined than others, but compositions of any kind appeal to different aspects of the listener. He encourages the questioner to keep on playing as he plays for the enjoyment of all.

A woman describes the experience of the feeling of oneness during a Beethoven sonata that was played the previous day. She asks how she can I allow that sensual feeling of oneness to blossom. Rupert suggests walking in nature. That would be a good place to start, because nature doesn't exist for any reason and easily evokes the feeling of connection. Make sure that every object in your home is beautiful. You develop a relationship with the objects.

Is it too grandiose to desire the feeling of oneness with all things? Rupert holds up a glass to illustrate that every object first is; it is and then it is qualified and added to by perception, by what the mind confers on the object. So no, it’s not too grandiose to imagine relating to objects in that way. The isness of the object is the same as the amness of our self. It is thought and perception that divide the two. And the recognition that the isness of the object is the same as the amness of our self is what we call beauty, while the recognition that the amness in another person is the same as the amness in us is what we call love.

Can you experience a feeling of love, knowing and oneness all at the same time? Rupert suggests that when you look at the face of the one you love, you're not really loving their face but who they really are. The same can be said for objects in that seeing the objects can take you to the same place, seeing the face of God.

A woman says she still feels like there is something she should do, and also that she doesn't need Rupert any more. Rupert suggests that she has changed so much over the years and tells her, just trust that you're being taken care of. It's happening, it's obvious that its happening. Trust that unfolding.

A man asks about the unknown, which he feels has been debunked – is there anything left to be unknown? Rupert responds that he is on the right track with this enquiry. The idea that reality is unknown belongs to a lesser stage of understanding. If we think that objects are objects and people are people, then reality appears to be a mystery. In this understanding, we see all these as appearances of the one reality. There are not two things.

A woman asks about Rupert's idea of spiritual friendship and how that relates to the notion that the age of the teacher is ending. Rupert suggests that he is a reluctant teacher, because being a teacher is not how he feels; rather, he feels he is a friend. Nor does he have any special knowledge. Specifically, it's the hierarchy that is ending, not the meetings and retreats.

A woman asks a question about the role of the community in the teaching. Rupert elaborates that people respond and express from their particular situations and skills. And he draws from that expression in his answers. The interaction is vital to the question and answer period. The retreats are an exceptional example of what that community looks like, the quality of love and creativity.

A woman elaborates further on the discussion of community, which she feels works because we all come with a sense of wholeness rather than a sense of need. And she also speaks of the unknowing that is simply part of life. Rupert responds that her description is very good, and he can't think of anything to add except the fact that there are some attendees whose paths won't cross again, but, of course, that is fine and natural.