Remove Attention From Everything That Is Not Essential
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 33 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 33 seconds
- Recorded on: May 3, 2021
- Event: Five-Day 'Retreat at Home' – April
A man who has been reading about non-duality asks how does he not identify with his thoughts and overwhelming feelings. Rupert suggests that it is because he identifies with the thoughts that are not essential to who he is.
A man who recently left a Christian meditation community, and is living in a hotel room in Bordeaux, finds himself alone and confused. He asks what the question ‘Who am I?’ refers to. Rupert speaks of removing his attention from all that is not essential to himself, such as thoughts, images and feelings, to get to who he really is.
A woman who is a long-time Zen practitioner says she knows the peace of awareness but asks how to bring that peace into her sleep. Rupert suggests that she not worry about it and simply allow awareness to lead her to her true nature.
A woman who is a Zen practitioner asks a question about how much sleep she needs, and whether it is a good practice to limit our sleep time. Rupert elaborates on various practices and says that he generally does not make such recommendations.
A man asks where liberation comes into the recognition of awareness, noting that there is still fear, such as fear of death. Rupert speaks of three kinds of liberation offered in and by awareness.
A woman says she understands that the relief from suffering comes from the recognition of having no separate self and abiding as awareness, but wants to know if this understanding will help with the suffering she feels for nature and wildlife. Rupert says that this understanding does not preclude empathy or activism.
A man from The Netherlands says he had a glimpse during this retreat but then felt resistance during the yoga meditation, in the form of falling asleep, and asks if this is unusual. Rupert responds that this is a common reaction by the ego to these meditations.
A woman from Dallas who has started to work with migrant children coming over the Texas border asks how to change the system without feeling righteous indignation. Rupert suggests that the indignation takes so much energy that without it she will be more effective and will draw others to the cause.
A man who was recently introduced to this teaching says that he longs for the feeling of being home, and asks for a practical way to get there. Rupert elaborates that ‘home’ is on the inside and that refuge is ultimately within yourself.
A man asks if there is a balance between allowing emotions and witnessing them. Rupert suggests investigating the ‘I’ in ‘I am upset’ rather than the upset itself.
A man asks about getting into a relationship during an intense seeking phase. Rupert suggests he come to terms with his own sense of lack, which no one else can ever fill.
A man from Minneapolis says that, being visually challenged, his somatic experience is more spatially oriented. He asks if there are any particular practices for this perspective. Rupert guides him in self-enquiry to investigate the spatial aspect more fully.
A woman who has had the recognition that she, as awareness, cannot be hurt and is completely safe, feels that she no longer needs to seek what she already is. Rupert agrees.
A woman describes an experience she had during a yoga meditation of a strong sensation in her chest that pulled her attention there so that all thought ceased. She asks if this is a reaction she should investigate further. Rupert suggests breathing into the density of the sensation.
A man asks about panpsychism and if the universe takes the limited form of a tree, an atom and himself. Rupert describes what appears in the dream state to explain the sense of localisation, and speaks briefly of panpsychism.
A questioner asks what motivates us to share this understanding. Rupert says that it is empathy, in that the suffering of others is the same as our own once we have recognised our shared being.
A man who has been reading about non-duality asks how does he not identify with his thoughts and overwhelming feelings. Rupert suggests that it is because he identifies with the thoughts that are not essential to who he is.
A man who recently left a Christian meditation community, and is living in a hotel room in Bordeaux, finds himself alone and confused. He asks what the question ‘Who am I?’ refers to. Rupert speaks of removing his attention from all that is not essential to himself, such as thoughts, images and feelings, to get to who he really is.
A woman who is a long-time Zen practitioner says she knows the peace of awareness but asks how to bring that peace into her sleep. Rupert suggests that she not worry about it and simply allow awareness to lead her to her true nature.
A woman who is a Zen practitioner asks a question about how much sleep she needs, and whether it is a good practice to limit our sleep time. Rupert elaborates on various practices and says that he generally does not make such recommendations.
A man asks where liberation comes into the recognition of awareness, noting that there is still fear, such as fear of death. Rupert speaks of three kinds of liberation offered in and by awareness.
A woman says she understands that the relief from suffering comes from the recognition of having no separate self and abiding as awareness, but wants to know if this understanding will help with the suffering she feels for nature and wildlife. Rupert says that this understanding does not preclude empathy or activism.
A man from The Netherlands says he had a glimpse during this retreat but then felt resistance during the yoga meditation, in the form of falling asleep, and asks if this is unusual. Rupert responds that this is a common reaction by the ego to these meditations.
A woman from Dallas who has started to work with migrant children coming over the Texas border asks how to change the system without feeling righteous indignation. Rupert suggests that the indignation takes so much energy that without it she will be more effective and will draw others to the cause.
A man who was recently introduced to this teaching says that he longs for the feeling of being home, and asks for a practical way to get there. Rupert elaborates that ‘home’ is on the inside and that refuge is ultimately within yourself.
A man asks if there is a balance between allowing emotions and witnessing them. Rupert suggests investigating the ‘I’ in ‘I am upset’ rather than the upset itself.
A man asks about getting into a relationship during an intense seeking phase. Rupert suggests he come to terms with his own sense of lack, which no one else can ever fill.
A man from Minneapolis says that, being visually challenged, his somatic experience is more spatially oriented. He asks if there are any particular practices for this perspective. Rupert guides him in self-enquiry to investigate the spatial aspect more fully.
A woman who has had the recognition that she, as awareness, cannot be hurt and is completely safe, feels that she no longer needs to seek what she already is. Rupert agrees.
A woman describes an experience she had during a yoga meditation of a strong sensation in her chest that pulled her attention there so that all thought ceased. She asks if this is a reaction she should investigate further. Rupert suggests breathing into the density of the sensation.
A man asks about panpsychism and if the universe takes the limited form of a tree, an atom and himself. Rupert describes what appears in the dream state to explain the sense of localisation, and speaks briefly of panpsychism.
A questioner asks what motivates us to share this understanding. Rupert says that it is empathy, in that the suffering of others is the same as our own once we have recognised our shared being.