Expressing the Understanding in Everyday Life

A man asks about how to incorporate the understanding into his daily life. Rupert suggests that just like the screen behind the movie shares none of the qualities of the characters or objects in the movie, so you, your being, is unlimited. All you need to do is stop believing that your being is limited.

A woman asks about trauma which she feels keeps her fixated on the past as she looks for resolution. Rupert responds that there is nothing wrong with the concept of the past. However, the trauma doesn't exist in the past but in the depths of our mind. Invite the trauma to come up into the light of awareness because it is seeking liberation. Trauma is more dangerous when it is suppressed, not when it arises to be liberated.

A man with OCD asks if mind disorders indicate a broken mind system or is it identifying with the separate self. Rupert suggests that it is likely a habit of the mind, a conditioning, not necessarily an identification with the separate self. He suggests that we not see it as a failure of understanding.

A woman experiences contractions when she asks, 'Am I aware?' Rupert suggests that the question is not about what is experienced in the body. He asks her what the answer is to the question. It only refers to the experience of being aware.

A man asks about the need for a teacher. Rupert suggests that he keep exploring the teachings, and if he gets stuck then he may want to listen to or ask someone who is qualified a question. However, don’t project the idea of a teacher on them. Sooner or later, we have to withdraw that projection. This is a short cut, to avoid the pitfalls that so many seekers hit. Think of sacred friendship, not teachers. All friendship is sacred.

A woman asks how to make decisions from this understanding and reads from 'You Are the Happiness You Seek’. Rupert responds with an interpretation of the quote but suggests that we can always hold in our heart that everyone is the same being. Make decisions that are informed by this understanding that peace and happiness are the nature of our being, and we share that with everything and everyone. Include both aspects in our decisions.

A man asks, ‘How can I tell if ‘I am’ is directly known as opposed to my mind just leaping in and owning it?’. Rupert asks the man, ‘Are you present?’ and leads in him self-enquiry.

A woman describes a joyful experience she had when reading Rupert's book, 'The Transparency of Things.' She asks about the place of emotions that arise with the recognition. Rupert suggests there is a release of tension – a relaxation – in our body that feels like an expansion, and feels like pleasure, but it is the impact of this recognition on the level of mind and body. It is not to be confused with realisation; these are states.

A man asks how to avoid numbing intense feelings with addictive patterns. Rupert suggests that just by virtue of the fact that he is aware of these feelings, it indicates the presence of awareness. All that's necessary is just to reserve some of your attention for yourself. Ask yourself, ‘What is aware of this feeling?’ or ‘Who is this I?’

A woman asks how to promote her services in business whilst remaining true to herself. Rupert suggests she make sure that the businesses express this understanding, that they take others back to their own being.

A man says that he has a busy mind and asks about how to explore emotions behind it. Rupert suggests pausing the thought, and then the feeling will be available. But there may be a rebellion because the feeling won't be comfortable. Usually the emotion will rise, grow and then we, as the openness, welcome the intensity.

A question is asked about autonomic and involuntary biological processes, specifically breathing. Rupert responds that the breath is used in meditation processes because it's going on all the time, but rarely noticed. It shares that quality of awareness – the breath is transparent, almost empty, ever-present.

A man who has faced a lot of health issues asks about how to burn though the fire into love. Rupert suggests that one makes every moment of one’s waking life in service of the one knowing only the one. Expectation comes to an end because the one is already fully present and manifest in our current circumstance.

A woman says she has a knowing of all this, and has glimpses, but she has physical problems that take her attention away and veil her understanding. She asks how to welcome all this pain and illness. Rupert suggests bathing the body-mind in the peace that is the nature of her being. Being aware is the container of all thoughts and physical sensations. Let them arise in this peaceful space. Offer all symptoms to this peace.

A man, who is new to non-duality, talks about an experience of expanding like a rubber ball and asks Rupert about it. Rupert suggests that the sense of separation expresses itself in two ways: agitation in the mind and tension in the body. If our minds and our body has been wound up into an intense state of tension then this release can be quite explosive. For others, it may quite gradual. This goes on forever.

A question is asked about falling asleep during meditation. Rupert responds that falling asleep and thinking are avoidance tactics of the separate self, a way for the separate self to avoid its own demise.

A woman, who grew up in a defensive family, asks how to be more creative in dealing with other people, specifically in groups. Rupert suggests she not wait to feel fully qualified before working with groups. The groups will help to qualify her to work with groups. She will learn whilst working with groups.

A man asks if Rupert believes in hell. Rupert says no, heaven is simply the nature of being, and hell is what we experience when that being is veiled. Sometimes, if people are depressed for long periods of time or live in despair, it can feel as if their depression is eternal or everlasting. But even then, it's not; it starts and stops. It may be a very heavy cloud that settles in and obscures the blue sky of awareness, but even then it's not eternal.

A woman says she feels like something needs to be exposed or come unstuck. The frustration with the difficulties of life makes it seem impossible to attend to the clarity she once had. Rupert responds that our being is present in the midst of and independent of circumstances, but we may need to change our circumstances to align them more with fully with our understanding.

A man asks about how to incorporate the understanding into his daily life. Rupert suggests that just like the screen behind the movie shares none of the qualities of the characters or objects in the movie, so you, your being, is unlimited. All you need to do is stop believing that your being is limited.

A woman asks about trauma which she feels keeps her fixated on the past as she looks for resolution. Rupert responds that there is nothing wrong with the concept of the past. However, the trauma doesn't exist in the past but in the depths of our mind. Invite the trauma to come up into the light of awareness because it is seeking liberation. Trauma is more dangerous when it is suppressed, not when it arises to be liberated.

A man with OCD asks if mind disorders indicate a broken mind system or is it identifying with the separate self. Rupert suggests that it is likely a habit of the mind, a conditioning, not necessarily an identification with the separate self. He suggests that we not see it as a failure of understanding.

A woman experiences contractions when she asks, 'Am I aware?' Rupert suggests that the question is not about what is experienced in the body. He asks her what the answer is to the question. It only refers to the experience of being aware.

A man asks about the need for a teacher. Rupert suggests that he keep exploring the teachings, and if he gets stuck then he may want to listen to or ask someone who is qualified a question. However, don’t project the idea of a teacher on them. Sooner or later, we have to withdraw that projection. This is a short cut, to avoid the pitfalls that so many seekers hit. Think of sacred friendship, not teachers. All friendship is sacred.

A woman asks how to make decisions from this understanding and reads from 'You Are the Happiness You Seek’. Rupert responds with an interpretation of the quote but suggests that we can always hold in our heart that everyone is the same being. Make decisions that are informed by this understanding that peace and happiness are the nature of our being, and we share that with everything and everyone. Include both aspects in our decisions.

A man asks, ‘How can I tell if ‘I am’ is directly known as opposed to my mind just leaping in and owning it?’. Rupert asks the man, ‘Are you present?’ and leads in him self-enquiry.

A woman describes a joyful experience she had when reading Rupert's book, 'The Transparency of Things.' She asks about the place of emotions that arise with the recognition. Rupert suggests there is a release of tension – a relaxation – in our body that feels like an expansion, and feels like pleasure, but it is the impact of this recognition on the level of mind and body. It is not to be confused with realisation; these are states.

A man asks how to avoid numbing intense feelings with addictive patterns. Rupert suggests that just by virtue of the fact that he is aware of these feelings, it indicates the presence of awareness. All that's necessary is just to reserve some of your attention for yourself. Ask yourself, ‘What is aware of this feeling?’ or ‘Who is this I?’

A woman asks how to promote her services in business whilst remaining true to herself. Rupert suggests she make sure that the businesses express this understanding, that they take others back to their own being.

A man says that he has a busy mind and asks about how to explore emotions behind it. Rupert suggests pausing the thought, and then the feeling will be available. But there may be a rebellion because the feeling won't be comfortable. Usually the emotion will rise, grow and then we, as the openness, welcome the intensity.

A question is asked about autonomic and involuntary biological processes, specifically breathing. Rupert responds that the breath is used in meditation processes because it's going on all the time, but rarely noticed. It shares that quality of awareness – the breath is transparent, almost empty, ever-present.

A man who has faced a lot of health issues asks about how to burn though the fire into love. Rupert suggests that one makes every moment of one’s waking life in service of the one knowing only the one. Expectation comes to an end because the one is already fully present and manifest in our current circumstance.

A woman says she has a knowing of all this, and has glimpses, but she has physical problems that take her attention away and veil her understanding. She asks how to welcome all this pain and illness. Rupert suggests bathing the body-mind in the peace that is the nature of her being. Being aware is the container of all thoughts and physical sensations. Let them arise in this peaceful space. Offer all symptoms to this peace.

A man, who is new to non-duality, talks about an experience of expanding like a rubber ball and asks Rupert about it. Rupert suggests that the sense of separation expresses itself in two ways: agitation in the mind and tension in the body. If our minds and our body has been wound up into an intense state of tension then this release can be quite explosive. For others, it may quite gradual. This goes on forever.

A question is asked about falling asleep during meditation. Rupert responds that falling asleep and thinking are avoidance tactics of the separate self, a way for the separate self to avoid its own demise.

A woman, who grew up in a defensive family, asks how to be more creative in dealing with other people, specifically in groups. Rupert suggests she not wait to feel fully qualified before working with groups. The groups will help to qualify her to work with groups. She will learn whilst working with groups.

A man asks if Rupert believes in hell. Rupert says no, heaven is simply the nature of being, and hell is what we experience when that being is veiled. Sometimes, if people are depressed for long periods of time or live in despair, it can feel as if their depression is eternal or everlasting. But even then, it's not; it starts and stops. It may be a very heavy cloud that settles in and obscures the blue sky of awareness, but even then it's not eternal.

A woman says she feels like something needs to be exposed or come unstuck. The frustration with the difficulties of life makes it seem impossible to attend to the clarity she once had. Rupert responds that our being is present in the midst of and independent of circumstances, but we may need to change our circumstances to align them more with fully with our understanding.