Expanding the Circle of Shared Being
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 38 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 38 seconds
- Recorded on: Aug 26, 2023
- Event: Ten Day Retreat at Castello di Titignano – August 2023
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A man asks about AI, after having read ChatGPT’s response to prompts about its own consciousness versus humans. Rupert suggests that everything ChatGPT said was reasonable except one statement.
A man asks if AI will develop consciousness. Rupert suggests that no, only consciousness is conscious. In the ultimate analysis, all there is is consciousness.
A man asks if we, as ripples in a lake, are copies of everything. Rupert uses an analogy of circles on white paper: consider a circle on the piece of paper, which indicates our separate self and seems to divide the paper into a ‘me’ and ‘not me’. Actually, the whole white sheet is infinite consciousness, that which is in the circle (me) and that which is outside the circle (not me).
A woman expresses her appreciation for the morning session and how it has helped her on her path. She asks if the Rupert Spira Foundation will be a means through which we can all be in touch, and can be a community that makes a difference. What is it about? Rupert responds that the purpose of the foundation is to bring the non-dual understanding to millions throughout the world.
A man shares his experience of imagining consciousness as space, but it’s always an image. Rupert suggests that this image is imprinted in your mind, not in your being. Our culture reinforces that consciousness is derived from the body. When your mind thinks about consciousness, it is mind’s attempt to think about consciousness.
A man asks about communicating with God, aware that the question is a dualistic assumption. How does God communicate with us? Rupert responds that God makes its presence felt in the finite mind as the experience of peace, joy, love, intuition and enthusiasm. Pure intelligence, as God's being, also reveals itself in the finite mind.
A man asks about how to live a life consistent with the understanding. Rupert suggests that, on the rare occasions when you feel you hear directly from God, don’t doubt it. But we don’t need to wait for a voice with special instruction. Explore your own experience of consciousness.
A man asks about the concept of shared being and how to experience it. Rupert asks the man how he feels about the baby sleeping on his chest. The man responds that he can feel it with his child and intimate partners but can’t experience it with everyone and everything. Rupert suggests that he take the fact that he feels it with his family as a sample and expand that circle to include everyone.
A man shares his loving kindness practice of trying to see others as innocent children. Rupert suggests that we take someone extreme, like Hitler, and imagine that we ask him to describe his thoughts and feelings about humanity. His views, versus ours, would be very different. But then imagine that we ask him and ourself to go to our direct experience. We would find no difference there.
A woman asks if, ultimately, nothing is to be done. Rupert responds that for consciousness, there is nothing to be done, but for a finite mind there is much to be done, and you are already doing it. If we genuinely understand that we are infinite, but we feel finite, then there is something to be done.
A man references the loss of his friend thirty years ago and how he still feels in touch with his friend's being. He wonders if this is in line with the teaching. Rupert suggests that it is in line with the teaching because what you loved about your friend was essential being, not his thoughts and body. Real death is not possible.
A man, who has joined a family with kids and has shared with them some of Rupert's teachings, reports on the impact of that experience. He asks about the container that a family needs, and how to go about creating that to allow the kids to stay as they are now. Rupert suggests that the container is primarily unconditional love but also a demonstration by the parents of openness, honesty, kindness, transparency and generosity. You share your being by modeling these qualities.
A man asks about Rupert’s metaphor of the moon in a Turner painting. Rupert suggests that the mind is not something separate from consciousness; it is a limitation of it. All there is to the mind is consciousness. Due to its limitation, the finite mind thinks the ‘I am’ is inside of itself. In the painting, the moon seems to be limited, but if you go up close it, you will see that the trees and clouds are the limits.
A woman asks several questions about AI: How different are we from AI in terms of database, etc? Can we program AI to experience a separate self? She also asks, 'How do we stay in unconditional love within our family?' In response to the last question, Rupert responds that while there may be conflict, you can still feel the love even if it is not enough to resolve the conflict. This lack of resolution does not imply the absence of unconditional love.
In response to a question about AI, Rupert elaborates on the differences between the qualities of AI and the separate self.
A man references the 'I Am Always I' video and asks about how to target teenagers. Ruperrt suggests that we give that generation as much access as possible to the teaching, but to also remember that while the teaching evolves, the understanding remains the same. The interaction between teacher and student affects how the teaching evolves. This teaching will evolve to respond to specific needs.
A man asks about AI, after having read ChatGPT’s response to prompts about its own consciousness versus humans. Rupert suggests that everything ChatGPT said was reasonable except one statement.
A man asks if AI will develop consciousness. Rupert suggests that no, only consciousness is conscious. In the ultimate analysis, all there is is consciousness.
A man asks if we, as ripples in a lake, are copies of everything. Rupert uses an analogy of circles on white paper: consider a circle on the piece of paper, which indicates our separate self and seems to divide the paper into a ‘me’ and ‘not me’. Actually, the whole white sheet is infinite consciousness, that which is in the circle (me) and that which is outside the circle (not me).
A woman expresses her appreciation for the morning session and how it has helped her on her path. She asks if the Rupert Spira Foundation will be a means through which we can all be in touch, and can be a community that makes a difference. What is it about? Rupert responds that the purpose of the foundation is to bring the non-dual understanding to millions throughout the world.
A man shares his experience of imagining consciousness as space, but it’s always an image. Rupert suggests that this image is imprinted in your mind, not in your being. Our culture reinforces that consciousness is derived from the body. When your mind thinks about consciousness, it is mind’s attempt to think about consciousness.
A man asks about communicating with God, aware that the question is a dualistic assumption. How does God communicate with us? Rupert responds that God makes its presence felt in the finite mind as the experience of peace, joy, love, intuition and enthusiasm. Pure intelligence, as God's being, also reveals itself in the finite mind.
A man asks about how to live a life consistent with the understanding. Rupert suggests that, on the rare occasions when you feel you hear directly from God, don’t doubt it. But we don’t need to wait for a voice with special instruction. Explore your own experience of consciousness.
A man asks about the concept of shared being and how to experience it. Rupert asks the man how he feels about the baby sleeping on his chest. The man responds that he can feel it with his child and intimate partners but can’t experience it with everyone and everything. Rupert suggests that he take the fact that he feels it with his family as a sample and expand that circle to include everyone.
A man shares his loving kindness practice of trying to see others as innocent children. Rupert suggests that we take someone extreme, like Hitler, and imagine that we ask him to describe his thoughts and feelings about humanity. His views, versus ours, would be very different. But then imagine that we ask him and ourself to go to our direct experience. We would find no difference there.
A woman asks if, ultimately, nothing is to be done. Rupert responds that for consciousness, there is nothing to be done, but for a finite mind there is much to be done, and you are already doing it. If we genuinely understand that we are infinite, but we feel finite, then there is something to be done.
A man references the loss of his friend thirty years ago and how he still feels in touch with his friend's being. He wonders if this is in line with the teaching. Rupert suggests that it is in line with the teaching because what you loved about your friend was essential being, not his thoughts and body. Real death is not possible.
A man, who has joined a family with kids and has shared with them some of Rupert's teachings, reports on the impact of that experience. He asks about the container that a family needs, and how to go about creating that to allow the kids to stay as they are now. Rupert suggests that the container is primarily unconditional love but also a demonstration by the parents of openness, honesty, kindness, transparency and generosity. You share your being by modeling these qualities.
A man asks about Rupert’s metaphor of the moon in a Turner painting. Rupert suggests that the mind is not something separate from consciousness; it is a limitation of it. All there is to the mind is consciousness. Due to its limitation, the finite mind thinks the ‘I am’ is inside of itself. In the painting, the moon seems to be limited, but if you go up close it, you will see that the trees and clouds are the limits.
A woman asks several questions about AI: How different are we from AI in terms of database, etc? Can we program AI to experience a separate self? She also asks, 'How do we stay in unconditional love within our family?' In response to the last question, Rupert responds that while there may be conflict, you can still feel the love even if it is not enough to resolve the conflict. This lack of resolution does not imply the absence of unconditional love.
In response to a question about AI, Rupert elaborates on the differences between the qualities of AI and the separate self.
A man references the 'I Am Always I' video and asks about how to target teenagers. Ruperrt suggests that we give that generation as much access as possible to the teaching, but to also remember that while the teaching evolves, the understanding remains the same. The interaction between teacher and student affects how the teaching evolves. This teaching will evolve to respond to specific needs.