‘Here’ Is Not a Place in Space
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 36 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 36 seconds
- Recorded on: Sep 16, 2023
- Event: The Divine Name – Online Weekend Retreat at Home
A woman asks if Rupert, now that he rests in being, still has unanswered questions about the nature of humanity. Rupert suggests that he still has thoughts and feelings that aren’t aligned; it is an ongoing process. There will always be unanswered questions.
A man asks about devotion and non-duality, since devotion implies duality. Rupert responds by quoting William Wordsworth, speaking of turning towards the uncreated, celebrating its reality. He speaks of surrendering the separate self not to God, but in God. This retreat is about divesting ourselves of all that is not essential, which is really the highest devotion.
A woman remarks on how beautiful the illustrations are for Rupert's children book, I Am Always I.
A woman talks about how some find it hard to return to being, and she doesn’t know how to help them. Rupert invites her to reflect on what she did during a time when she was so lost in the drama of experience that she couldn’t find her way back to her being. You just have to meet people where they are and find a way to magnify being in them.
A man asks about how enlightement arises within 3-D reality. He also enquires about the process of getting what one wants, and then let go. Rupert encourages him to try to find what lies behind a desire – for instance, money. If you think money will make you happy, then the desire is coming from a belief in your unhappiness, so the money wouldn't bring the happiness you seek. Rupert also speaks of the difference between personal and impersonal desires.
A man asks about the distinction between feeling sharp and feeling in a dull state. Rupert suggests that the sun is always shining, but some days are overcast and some are not. Our being is always shining with the same luminosity but is clouded to different degrees at various times.
A man asks if being is an energy with a constant force. Rupert says that it's not an energy; it is prior to energy. The entire universe is the vibration of being, but being is prior to and independent of that vibration.
A man shares that the topic of evil was discussed in a breakout room. Rupert suggests that if we look at 'evil' activities, we see they are initiated by people who don’t know that they share their being with everyone and everything. Their being is not evil; their thoughts and feelings are ignorant of true nature.
A woman asks for clarification on regarding various definitions of consciousness. Rupert elaborates that if consciousness is prior to the absolute, what knowledge could there be of the absolute?
A woman asks about the true purpose of beings in their physical form. Rupert suggests there aren’t numerous beings, there is one being. Space has no limits; neither does being. Nothing happens to being when the body is born, nothing happens during life, and nothing happens to being when the body dies.
A woman thanks Rupert for helping her to see her true nature, and she speaks of experiencing a big ball appearing before her third eye. Rupert responds that the body is usually bound up in a state of tension due to belief in separation. And when that tension is released, the body relaxes. This was probably a response along those lines.
A woman asks about remaining as a witness of what is happening. Rupert suggests not getting lost in experience. Rather, we should dissolve experience into ourself.
A man asks about how to not get caught up in ego on his spiritual pursuit. Rupert leads him in self-enquiry to experience the nature of his being. The man explores what it means to be 'here' if here is not a place in space.
A man asks if we, as beings, need to use thoughts, feelings and perceptions in order to recognise being. Rupert says being knows itself by itself. It doesn't need a finite mind. Using the John Smith/King Lear metaphor, he says that King Lear cannot know he is John Smith. Only John Smith knows himself. Consciousness needs the mind to know the world but not itself.
A man describes how important it is to him to become lost in himself and then remember who he is. Using the John Smith/King Lear metaphor, Rupert describes John Smith's remembrance of himself.
A man asks if it is valid to focus the mind on a single thought in order to calm down. Rupert says yes, it's a legitimate halfway step that can help to steady the mind. Then take one step back into your being.
A man asks if scientific knowledge is dualistic. Rupert suggests that all scientific knowledge comes to us through the mind in subject–object relationship. It is therefore dualistic. Scientific knowledge shares the limitations of the mind that knows it.
A man asks about when the separate self arises. Rupert says that it is a belief and a feeling that 'I am separate'.
A woman who suffered severe childhood abuse and trauma, speaks of hearing voices, internalised negative and critical voices. Rupert suggests distracting herself so that she's no longer paying attention to those voices.
A woman asks if Rupert, now that he rests in being, still has unanswered questions about the nature of humanity. Rupert suggests that he still has thoughts and feelings that aren’t aligned; it is an ongoing process. There will always be unanswered questions.
A man asks about devotion and non-duality, since devotion implies duality. Rupert responds by quoting William Wordsworth, speaking of turning towards the uncreated, celebrating its reality. He speaks of surrendering the separate self not to God, but in God. This retreat is about divesting ourselves of all that is not essential, which is really the highest devotion.
A woman remarks on how beautiful the illustrations are for Rupert's children book, I Am Always I.
A woman talks about how some find it hard to return to being, and she doesn’t know how to help them. Rupert invites her to reflect on what she did during a time when she was so lost in the drama of experience that she couldn’t find her way back to her being. You just have to meet people where they are and find a way to magnify being in them.
A man asks about how enlightement arises within 3-D reality. He also enquires about the process of getting what one wants, and then let go. Rupert encourages him to try to find what lies behind a desire – for instance, money. If you think money will make you happy, then the desire is coming from a belief in your unhappiness, so the money wouldn't bring the happiness you seek. Rupert also speaks of the difference between personal and impersonal desires.
A man asks about the distinction between feeling sharp and feeling in a dull state. Rupert suggests that the sun is always shining, but some days are overcast and some are not. Our being is always shining with the same luminosity but is clouded to different degrees at various times.
A man asks if being is an energy with a constant force. Rupert says that it's not an energy; it is prior to energy. The entire universe is the vibration of being, but being is prior to and independent of that vibration.
A man shares that the topic of evil was discussed in a breakout room. Rupert suggests that if we look at 'evil' activities, we see they are initiated by people who don’t know that they share their being with everyone and everything. Their being is not evil; their thoughts and feelings are ignorant of true nature.
A woman asks for clarification on regarding various definitions of consciousness. Rupert elaborates that if consciousness is prior to the absolute, what knowledge could there be of the absolute?
A woman asks about the true purpose of beings in their physical form. Rupert suggests there aren’t numerous beings, there is one being. Space has no limits; neither does being. Nothing happens to being when the body is born, nothing happens during life, and nothing happens to being when the body dies.
A woman thanks Rupert for helping her to see her true nature, and she speaks of experiencing a big ball appearing before her third eye. Rupert responds that the body is usually bound up in a state of tension due to belief in separation. And when that tension is released, the body relaxes. This was probably a response along those lines.
A woman asks about remaining as a witness of what is happening. Rupert suggests not getting lost in experience. Rather, we should dissolve experience into ourself.
A man asks about how to not get caught up in ego on his spiritual pursuit. Rupert leads him in self-enquiry to experience the nature of his being. The man explores what it means to be 'here' if here is not a place in space.
A man asks if we, as beings, need to use thoughts, feelings and perceptions in order to recognise being. Rupert says being knows itself by itself. It doesn't need a finite mind. Using the John Smith/King Lear metaphor, he says that King Lear cannot know he is John Smith. Only John Smith knows himself. Consciousness needs the mind to know the world but not itself.
A man describes how important it is to him to become lost in himself and then remember who he is. Using the John Smith/King Lear metaphor, Rupert describes John Smith's remembrance of himself.
A man asks if it is valid to focus the mind on a single thought in order to calm down. Rupert says yes, it's a legitimate halfway step that can help to steady the mind. Then take one step back into your being.
A man asks if scientific knowledge is dualistic. Rupert suggests that all scientific knowledge comes to us through the mind in subject–object relationship. It is therefore dualistic. Scientific knowledge shares the limitations of the mind that knows it.
A man asks about when the separate self arises. Rupert says that it is a belief and a feeling that 'I am separate'.
A woman who suffered severe childhood abuse and trauma, speaks of hearing voices, internalised negative and critical voices. Rupert suggests distracting herself so that she's no longer paying attention to those voices.