Embodiment and Living the Understanding

A woman says she can, during meditation, feel a sense of awareness, but she gets confused by the idea of objects being 'made of' awareness, and the idea of 'touching' a thought. Rupert speaks of thought as the activity of thinking which happens in awareness.

A man says he recently ended up in emergency and ended up depressed due to the painkillers he was taking. Rupert suggests therapy because this teaching can be challenging for a fragile, unstable mind.

A woman says she suffers from chronic illness and though she's achieved some clarity mentally, she feels the need to get through some trauma that still appears to surface in the body. Rupert suggests her question has to do with residues of trauma in the body that will be addressed in this 5-day retreat.

A man says he has many dreams that he hopes to fulfill, for what he calls 'ideal conditions.' He asks Rupert if he should give up his dreams or let go and be guided. Rupert suggests a vision is fine, but it is important to realise that happiness is not found in objective experience.

A woman from New Jersey says she resonates with all that is being said, but she feels that because she suffers from serious illnesses, she feels disconnected from knowing. She asks about surrender and integration. Rupert responds to that which is always present whether she experiences illness or a walk in nature, the 'I am.'

A man asks Rupert to elaborate on the idea that as we abide in awareness, the content of experience gradually loses its power to pull our attention away from our self, our being.

A woman from Germany asks how she can see or know herself clearly when she is in fear. Rupert guides her in self-inquiry to discover the nature of the 'I' that feels fear.

A man who is a lifelong seeker says though he knows not to compare, he sees others having a swoon that they attribute to realisation, and so he has felt that he is not there yet. Then he heard Rupert say that it's not about feelings and was taken aback that he had been seeking for a feeling. Rupert explains that happiness is not a feeling.

A woman describes the experience of the effervescence of joy, a kind of tingling feeling, and she asks if she is getting lost in a feeling. Rupert explains that the effervescence may disappear, but the joy remains.

A man from Kent asks if he can get a break from the voice in his head, and should he act on these thoughts or ignore them? Rupert suggests he ignore thoughts that arise on behalf of a separate self.

A woman asks if experience doesn't leave a trace on awareness, as Rupert says, why try to be a good person? Why try to grow and change?

A man from Luxembourg asks about striving, in that he sees that it is trying to acquire something in the future, but he would still like to do good work, like building churches, so asks about striving and work. Rupert suggests that enthusiasm is the guide and the motivation.

A man from the South of France asks about the effort required to step back, giving attention to awareness, and what exactly does awareness watching awareness mean? Rupert speaks of the etymology of the word 'attention.'

A man asks questions about fear and bodily tensions he feels when he rests as awareness and then doubt about the peaceful experiences upon returning to normal life. Rupert explains that the fear and the tensions are a result of the separate self feeling its existence threatened, and says to test those doubts to establish yourself in your true nature.

A man from Ontario says he was resistant to the teachings in the beginning, but then saw pigeons while meditating which he takes to mean 'calling home,' so he took this as a sign that awareness is calling him home. He asks if there is a divine hand that chooses or guides what shows up in our experience?

A woman says she can, during meditation, feel a sense of awareness, but she gets confused by the idea of objects being 'made of' awareness, and the idea of 'touching' a thought. Rupert speaks of thought as the activity of thinking which happens in awareness.

A man says he recently ended up in emergency and ended up depressed due to the painkillers he was taking. Rupert suggests therapy because this teaching can be challenging for a fragile, unstable mind.

A woman says she suffers from chronic illness and though she's achieved some clarity mentally, she feels the need to get through some trauma that still appears to surface in the body. Rupert suggests her question has to do with residues of trauma in the body that will be addressed in this 5-day retreat.

A man says he has many dreams that he hopes to fulfill, for what he calls 'ideal conditions.' He asks Rupert if he should give up his dreams or let go and be guided. Rupert suggests a vision is fine, but it is important to realise that happiness is not found in objective experience.

A woman from New Jersey says she resonates with all that is being said, but she feels that because she suffers from serious illnesses, she feels disconnected from knowing. She asks about surrender and integration. Rupert responds to that which is always present whether she experiences illness or a walk in nature, the 'I am.'

A man asks Rupert to elaborate on the idea that as we abide in awareness, the content of experience gradually loses its power to pull our attention away from our self, our being.

A woman from Germany asks how she can see or know herself clearly when she is in fear. Rupert guides her in self-inquiry to discover the nature of the 'I' that feels fear.

A man who is a lifelong seeker says though he knows not to compare, he sees others having a swoon that they attribute to realisation, and so he has felt that he is not there yet. Then he heard Rupert say that it's not about feelings and was taken aback that he had been seeking for a feeling. Rupert explains that happiness is not a feeling.

A woman describes the experience of the effervescence of joy, a kind of tingling feeling, and she asks if she is getting lost in a feeling. Rupert explains that the effervescence may disappear, but the joy remains.

A man from Kent asks if he can get a break from the voice in his head, and should he act on these thoughts or ignore them? Rupert suggests he ignore thoughts that arise on behalf of a separate self.

A woman asks if experience doesn't leave a trace on awareness, as Rupert says, why try to be a good person? Why try to grow and change?

A man from Luxembourg asks about striving, in that he sees that it is trying to acquire something in the future, but he would still like to do good work, like building churches, so asks about striving and work. Rupert suggests that enthusiasm is the guide and the motivation.

A man from the South of France asks about the effort required to step back, giving attention to awareness, and what exactly does awareness watching awareness mean? Rupert speaks of the etymology of the word 'attention.'

A man asks questions about fear and bodily tensions he feels when he rests as awareness and then doubt about the peaceful experiences upon returning to normal life. Rupert explains that the fear and the tensions are a result of the separate self feeling its existence threatened, and says to test those doubts to establish yourself in your true nature.

A man from Ontario says he was resistant to the teachings in the beginning, but then saw pigeons while meditating which he takes to mean 'calling home,' so he took this as a sign that awareness is calling him home. He asks if there is a divine hand that chooses or guides what shows up in our experience?