Being Is the Only Self There Is
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 50 minutes, and 0 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 50 minutes, and 0 seconds
- Recorded on: Oct 29, 2021
- Event: Seven Day Retreat at Mercy Center, CA - October 2021
A man asks about his tendency to spiritually bypass uncomfortable feelings. Rupert explains that while the Vedantic path goes to the one who is aware the feeling, the Tantric approach turns towards the feeling as the space of awareness and says, ‘Welcome, come in, stay as long as you like’.
A man asks if a human being can ever be 100 percent happy and peaceful. Rupert suggests that it is never a human being that is happy, but that happiness and peace belong to awareness alone. There are degrees to which the character of a human being is surrendered to the presence of awareness.
A man asks if infinite consciousness is omniscient. Rupert responds that it is, in that everything that is known is known by consciousness, but consciousness cannot know objective experience directly. We are the eyes and ears through which God perceives its own activity as the universe.
A rman thanks participants for their love.
A man asks what the word ‘luminosity’ refers to. Rupert explains that just as the sun illuminates the earth and renders it visible, consciousness illuminates our experience and renders it knowable. Luminosity is knowing, a poetic word for that which illuminates experience.
A woman from a different spiritual community, asks for clarification around the terms ‘self’ and ‘I am’. Rupert explains that the true self and illusory self are frequently considered two separate things, but that’s like suggesting that John Smith and King Lear are two separate beings. Being is the only self there is.
A man with lifelong anxiety feels that his mind has shifted during this retreat. Rupert suggests that there is something special that happens in retreat, a kind of alchemy when we gather with this love of understanding and truth.
A woman who references a yoga meditation says she can’t use her imagination that way. Rupert suggests that the exercise is not meant to be rational, but to give us the visceral felt sense of the absence of a boundary – to feel our bodies as transparent and luminous.
A man shares that he felt resistance in his heart during a yoga meditation. Rupert suggests that we take our time with resistance and focus on one feeling at a time. What we do here is not work, but love.
A man says that as he sinks deeper into awareness, he is afraid he will not fulfil his responsibilities to his loved ones. Rupert suggests that it’s possible that how we provide may change, but there is no reason to think the love and commitment we feel will change.
A woman in the middle of a major work transition asks if she can trust the joy she feels around work or is it an egoic joy. Rupert suggests that there is no such thing as egoic joy.
A woman approaching retirement age asks about how much to plan for it and how much to just let it go and trust. Rupert suggests that part of the process is cooperation, and in whose service the money is made, ego or truth. Money is the currency of love.
A man asks if the body/mind ever realises its true nature. Rupert responds that the body/mind doesn’t realise it’s true nature, just as King Lear doesn’t experience 'I am John Smith'. Only John Smith knows John Smith. Only consciousness knows consciousness.
A man who has never given himself permission to bring his artwork into the world, asks how important is it that he actualise it. Rupert suggests that his desire to do so is his answer. Something on the inside wants to make itself known on the outside. Art is an expression of love.
A man asks about his tendency to spiritually bypass uncomfortable feelings. Rupert explains that while the Vedantic path goes to the one who is aware the feeling, the Tantric approach turns towards the feeling as the space of awareness and says, ‘Welcome, come in, stay as long as you like’.
A man asks if a human being can ever be 100 percent happy and peaceful. Rupert suggests that it is never a human being that is happy, but that happiness and peace belong to awareness alone. There are degrees to which the character of a human being is surrendered to the presence of awareness.
A man asks if infinite consciousness is omniscient. Rupert responds that it is, in that everything that is known is known by consciousness, but consciousness cannot know objective experience directly. We are the eyes and ears through which God perceives its own activity as the universe.
A rman thanks participants for their love.
A man asks what the word ‘luminosity’ refers to. Rupert explains that just as the sun illuminates the earth and renders it visible, consciousness illuminates our experience and renders it knowable. Luminosity is knowing, a poetic word for that which illuminates experience.
A woman from a different spiritual community, asks for clarification around the terms ‘self’ and ‘I am’. Rupert explains that the true self and illusory self are frequently considered two separate things, but that’s like suggesting that John Smith and King Lear are two separate beings. Being is the only self there is.
A man with lifelong anxiety feels that his mind has shifted during this retreat. Rupert suggests that there is something special that happens in retreat, a kind of alchemy when we gather with this love of understanding and truth.
A woman who references a yoga meditation says she can’t use her imagination that way. Rupert suggests that the exercise is not meant to be rational, but to give us the visceral felt sense of the absence of a boundary – to feel our bodies as transparent and luminous.
A man shares that he felt resistance in his heart during a yoga meditation. Rupert suggests that we take our time with resistance and focus on one feeling at a time. What we do here is not work, but love.
A man says that as he sinks deeper into awareness, he is afraid he will not fulfil his responsibilities to his loved ones. Rupert suggests that it’s possible that how we provide may change, but there is no reason to think the love and commitment we feel will change.
A woman in the middle of a major work transition asks if she can trust the joy she feels around work or is it an egoic joy. Rupert suggests that there is no such thing as egoic joy.
A woman approaching retirement age asks about how much to plan for it and how much to just let it go and trust. Rupert suggests that part of the process is cooperation, and in whose service the money is made, ego or truth. Money is the currency of love.
A man asks if the body/mind ever realises its true nature. Rupert responds that the body/mind doesn’t realise it’s true nature, just as King Lear doesn’t experience 'I am John Smith'. Only John Smith knows John Smith. Only consciousness knows consciousness.
A man who has never given himself permission to bring his artwork into the world, asks how important is it that he actualise it. Rupert suggests that his desire to do so is his answer. Something on the inside wants to make itself known on the outside. Art is an expression of love.