Longing Transformed Into Love

In this meditation, we explore how our love of God is God's love of us. Whatever we love is a reflection of our love of the divine. The finite mind cannot think about the divine because everything it conceives appears consistent with its limitations. Therefore, love of the divine is reflected as love for a person or a thing. This is a concession to the person we believe ourself to be. In reality, that person has no independent existence of their own. It’s an apparent limitation of the only one that is –God's being. Attraction is really the infinite attracting us to itself. To merge with the object of our love, we must discard everything that defines or limits us. For the temporary, finite self, love is experienced as longing. As the finite approaches the infinite, it is gradually divested of its limitations. Longing is transformed into love in this understanding.

What is the direct way to find what you seek? Rupert suggests that we find what we previously sought in objective experience only when we turn toward our self. We cannot progress toward who we are because we are that.

How to make 'aha' moments a constant reality? Rupert responds that these 'aha' moments are not really fleeting, as they are constantly already present, but simply seem to interrupt the limitations of the finite mind.

A man asks if suffering is an invitation to return to self. Rupert suggests that it is an invitation to return to our being, which is a place of refuge, in which we can allow the suffering to be.

A man who signed up for the Hero’s Journey, asks when it is appropriate to engage in therapeutic interventions. Rupert suggests that there are two reasons to engage in therapy: the first is in preparation for this understanding and the second is if there are deep-seated habits that resist opening to this understanding.

Is there a predetermined moment of recognition, a divestment of limitations? Rupert responds that we are not finite, so there is no moment in the future when we are divested of limitations; we are that now.

Do I have a calling in life if there such a thing? Rupert suggests that if we follow what we love to do we will fulfill our unique purpose.

A woman asks, 'Am I on the right path?' and Rupert responds that our true nature is not a feeling, but shines in our feelings as peace, joy and love.

What is the life you want to lead, asks Rupert, of a woman who wonders if she should go back to a community she left. Rupert suggests that it is important to listen deeply to whether we are moving toward something positive or not.

When it's time to move on from a situation, Rupert suggests that if the dissatisfaction intensifies over time, it may be a good indication that it's time to move on.

Your love of truth is all that matters, suggests Rupert, in response to a woman who feels a lingering need to push herself as she worries that she is not earnest enough.

Must all difficult emotions be faced or is it enough to just want to be happy? Rupert speaks of 'kissing the toad' regarding facing difficult feelings, but that we can't do this practice with the intent of getting rid of the feelings.

Rupert offers definitions for the collective unconscious, universal mind and ego in response to a woman who is new to the non-dual understanding.

We cooperate with the universe when we listen to urgent impulses such as reconnecting with family, Rupert suggests, in response to a man who asks about how to get out of difficult situations.

In this meditation, we explore how our love of God is God's love of us. Whatever we love is a reflection of our love of the divine. The finite mind cannot think about the divine because everything it conceives appears consistent with its limitations. Therefore, love of the divine is reflected as love for a person or a thing. This is a concession to the person we believe ourself to be. In reality, that person has no independent existence of their own. It’s an apparent limitation of the only one that is –God's being. Attraction is really the infinite attracting us to itself. To merge with the object of our love, we must discard everything that defines or limits us. For the temporary, finite self, love is experienced as longing. As the finite approaches the infinite, it is gradually divested of its limitations. Longing is transformed into love in this understanding.

What is the direct way to find what you seek? Rupert suggests that we find what we previously sought in objective experience only when we turn toward our self. We cannot progress toward who we are because we are that.

How to make 'aha' moments a constant reality? Rupert responds that these 'aha' moments are not really fleeting, as they are constantly already present, but simply seem to interrupt the limitations of the finite mind.

A man asks if suffering is an invitation to return to self. Rupert suggests that it is an invitation to return to our being, which is a place of refuge, in which we can allow the suffering to be.

A man who signed up for the Hero’s Journey, asks when it is appropriate to engage in therapeutic interventions. Rupert suggests that there are two reasons to engage in therapy: the first is in preparation for this understanding and the second is if there are deep-seated habits that resist opening to this understanding.

Is there a predetermined moment of recognition, a divestment of limitations? Rupert responds that we are not finite, so there is no moment in the future when we are divested of limitations; we are that now.

Do I have a calling in life if there such a thing? Rupert suggests that if we follow what we love to do we will fulfill our unique purpose.

A woman asks, 'Am I on the right path?' and Rupert responds that our true nature is not a feeling, but shines in our feelings as peace, joy and love.

What is the life you want to lead, asks Rupert, of a woman who wonders if she should go back to a community she left. Rupert suggests that it is important to listen deeply to whether we are moving toward something positive or not.

When it's time to move on from a situation, Rupert suggests that if the dissatisfaction intensifies over time, it may be a good indication that it's time to move on.

Your love of truth is all that matters, suggests Rupert, in response to a woman who feels a lingering need to push herself as she worries that she is not earnest enough.

Must all difficult emotions be faced or is it enough to just want to be happy? Rupert speaks of 'kissing the toad' regarding facing difficult feelings, but that we can't do this practice with the intent of getting rid of the feelings.

Rupert offers definitions for the collective unconscious, universal mind and ego in response to a woman who is new to the non-dual understanding.

We cooperate with the universe when we listen to urgent impulses such as reconnecting with family, Rupert suggests, in response to a man who asks about how to get out of difficult situations.