In Touch with Being Whilst in the World
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 10 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 10 seconds
- Recorded on: Mar 30, 2023
- Event: Seven Day Retreat at Garrison Institute – 26th March to 2nd April
A woman asks about oneness and why one shouldn't commit suicide. Rupert suggests that we presume that when the body dies the mind dies, which there is no evidence for. Suicide does not relieve us. If we want relief from our mind, we don't put an end to our body. We have to take a step back from our mind to our being.
A man, who says he's been attending to objects for most of his life and now recognises his true nature, asks if he is aware of being aware. Rupert asks if he is aware, and how he knows he is aware. That is the experience of being aware, or being aware. We are aware that we're aware and answer accordingly because we know we are aware.
A woman asks if we can maintain awareness in the dreamless state. Rupert says that the answer to that question was in yesterday’s meditation. She said she'd listen again.
A woman thanks Rupert for the inclusion of art and music in the teachings and retreats, which wasn't a part of her previous teaching. She expresses her appreciation that Rupert speaks to everyone as if they are equal. Rupert suggests she join them at a retreat someday where there are lots of musicians. Rupert also briefly discusses the difference between that which is illusory but real.
A woman asks about serving the one each day, as it relates to her work as a coach, whilst also making money. Rupert suggests that she shouldn’t impose the idea of service on her work. It’s really love, through whatever you do. The motivation should be the love of the work. The main motivation is love; the love of helping people.
A woman asks if self-abidance requires eyes closed, because she finds it difficult to abide with eyes open. Rupert responds that with eyes closed, the world is not a distraction; when alone, neither are other people. This is necessary in the beginning. Eventually, when you're familiar with your being, it's important to remain in touch with your being when you are out in the world and participating in activities.
A woman asks about awareness of the body and the breath which seems to get in the way of being in touch with her being. Rupert suggests not worrying about breathing because it is so subtle and transparent. He says the movie doesn't need to disappear in order to see the screen. This applies to the subtlety of breathing, which is a pale wash over your true nature and doesn't interfere with the shining of your true nature.
A man, who eschews routine and travels. wonders if he is escaping the here and now. Rupert affirms that happiness is the nature of our being, but that doesn't mean that we should sit motionless all day. Use your experience travelling to infuse other experiences. And when you sit, face any sense of lack that comes up without distracting yourself.
A woman asks about those experiences that seem to obscure her true being, such as medical issues, symptoms and medications side effects. Rupert suggests that these are the more demanding yoga postures of her practice, but the principle is the same: that the fact of being aware is not really obscured by experience, although pain often captures our attention. Rupert leads her in self-enquiry to help her find the peace that is there behind all experience.
A man asks how the understanding can help him in life. Rupert suggests that with regard to our inner life, we find that peace is the nature of our being. With regard to our outer life, we understand that we share our being with everyone and everything. This understanding has a profound effect on our thoughts, feelings, actions and relationships.
A woman asks about oneness and why one shouldn't commit suicide. Rupert suggests that we presume that when the body dies the mind dies, which there is no evidence for. Suicide does not relieve us. If we want relief from our mind, we don't put an end to our body. We have to take a step back from our mind to our being.
A man, who says he's been attending to objects for most of his life and now recognises his true nature, asks if he is aware of being aware. Rupert asks if he is aware, and how he knows he is aware. That is the experience of being aware, or being aware. We are aware that we're aware and answer accordingly because we know we are aware.
A woman asks if we can maintain awareness in the dreamless state. Rupert says that the answer to that question was in yesterday’s meditation. She said she'd listen again.
A woman thanks Rupert for the inclusion of art and music in the teachings and retreats, which wasn't a part of her previous teaching. She expresses her appreciation that Rupert speaks to everyone as if they are equal. Rupert suggests she join them at a retreat someday where there are lots of musicians. Rupert also briefly discusses the difference between that which is illusory but real.
A woman asks about serving the one each day, as it relates to her work as a coach, whilst also making money. Rupert suggests that she shouldn’t impose the idea of service on her work. It’s really love, through whatever you do. The motivation should be the love of the work. The main motivation is love; the love of helping people.
A woman asks if self-abidance requires eyes closed, because she finds it difficult to abide with eyes open. Rupert responds that with eyes closed, the world is not a distraction; when alone, neither are other people. This is necessary in the beginning. Eventually, when you're familiar with your being, it's important to remain in touch with your being when you are out in the world and participating in activities.
A woman asks about awareness of the body and the breath which seems to get in the way of being in touch with her being. Rupert suggests not worrying about breathing because it is so subtle and transparent. He says the movie doesn't need to disappear in order to see the screen. This applies to the subtlety of breathing, which is a pale wash over your true nature and doesn't interfere with the shining of your true nature.
A man, who eschews routine and travels. wonders if he is escaping the here and now. Rupert affirms that happiness is the nature of our being, but that doesn't mean that we should sit motionless all day. Use your experience travelling to infuse other experiences. And when you sit, face any sense of lack that comes up without distracting yourself.
A woman asks about those experiences that seem to obscure her true being, such as medical issues, symptoms and medications side effects. Rupert suggests that these are the more demanding yoga postures of her practice, but the principle is the same: that the fact of being aware is not really obscured by experience, although pain often captures our attention. Rupert leads her in self-enquiry to help her find the peace that is there behind all experience.
A man asks how the understanding can help him in life. Rupert suggests that with regard to our inner life, we find that peace is the nature of our being. With regard to our outer life, we understand that we share our being with everyone and everything. This understanding has a profound effect on our thoughts, feelings, actions and relationships.