The Essence of Meditation Is to Know Thyself

Relax the focus of attention from the content of experience. Come back to simply being. All difficulties in life stem from the fact that we have forgotten our self. We don't really forget our self completely. Everybody always has the sense of being their self, but it is mixed with the content of experience so we don’t see our self clearly. The essence of meditation is to see clearly, to know thyself as that which never leaves but remains constantly present in the background of all experience. When we separate our self from everything that is not essential to us, what remains is naked, self-aware being. Remain as that, not just in prayer or meditation, but throughout all activities and relationships. It is what ‘I am’. Whilst lost in the content of experience returning to our self seems to require effort. Eventually, we realise that it is what we are, not what we do. We sink deeply into our being.

A man asks about how to write from the depths of his being. Rupert suggests that he write each day, even if he writes about nothing. Also, feel that he is writing to his most intimate companion who is about to go on a long journey, as if it is the last thing you will ever say to them.

A woman who spent Christmas at a Christian monastery asks about Jesus and his non-dual understanding. Rupert responds that Jesus was a person who had recognised his true nature and his identity with God as God. He doesn't think of him as a person but as who he understood himself to be – his self, the same 'I am' that we know our self to be. Jesus the person and Christ the 'I am' are one and the same. His revelation was so profound that it has touched many people throughout history.

A woman asks if the light of being shines brighter in the guru. Rupert responds that it only shines more if you consider yourself a student. It shines the same for all. The projection depends upon the beliefs in separation and your essential nature.

A man shares that his chosen path to awareness is perception. Rupert suggests that the most important thing on the path of perception is that beauty is the recognition of the unity of being. It is never an object that is beautiful; it has the capacity to collapse the subject–object relationship and reveal reality. Objects are the way the one reality appears to us when we look at it through our perceiving facilities.

A woman asks how to share the unshareable, and shares a brief story to get feedback on her attempt to do so. Rupert thanks her for her perspective.

A man asks about moving away from a negative self-image to a positive one. Rupert suggests that it’s ultimately better to have no self-image because it's not possible to make an image of the self. It’s better simply to be that self, and then its innate qualities express themselves in our life. However, as a halfway step it is legitimate, and sometimes necessary, to develop a positive self-image.

A woman comments on the fear of death and childhood trauma stored in the head, and asks how to ease the 'hallucination' of the trauma. Rupert guides her in self-enquiry to discover the empty, open space of awareness – breathing it in, which fills up the head. The inhale brings it into the head, and the exhale moves it out. Do this several times until this loving emptiness is all around. The sensation is carried out into the space. Deal with it at this visceral level, not intellectually.

A man asks about self-consciousness, which seems to be at the centre of struggles. Rupert suggests that King Lear, as he goes about the play, can be self-conscious in two ways. One is as King Lear reflecting on himself as a person. However, he can also go deeper and be conscious of himself as John Smith. It is natural to be conscious of ourself, but on the spiritual path we take it deeper. Another name for 'self-inquiry' is to be truly 'self-conscious'.

A woman, who had previously asked Rupert about an experience she had of melting, asks about levels of enlightenment as she is still attempting to integrate that experience. Rupert responds that it's like asking if there are levels of lightness in regard to the sun. There are degrees of ignorance but no degrees of enlightenment. There is also a discussion about prostrations as a practice.

A man asks about relationships and why awareness would need to be careful about choosing a partner. Rupert suggests that awareness doesn’t choose; choice is at the level of the person. We want to find a partner with whom we can explore these matters and express them. And if we push each other's buttons, that’s just fuel for the fire of self-realisation.

A man speaks of going through what feels like being volleyed between grace and ignorance. The ignorance manifests as the feeling 'I should do something', which feels more like duty than love. He speaks of how much time he spends attending to meditation and non-dual meetings. Rupert suggests reducing the time devoted to meditation and non-dual group meetings.

Relax the focus of attention from the content of experience. Come back to simply being. All difficulties in life stem from the fact that we have forgotten our self. We don't really forget our self completely. Everybody always has the sense of being their self, but it is mixed with the content of experience so we don’t see our self clearly. The essence of meditation is to see clearly, to know thyself as that which never leaves but remains constantly present in the background of all experience. When we separate our self from everything that is not essential to us, what remains is naked, self-aware being. Remain as that, not just in prayer or meditation, but throughout all activities and relationships. It is what ‘I am’. Whilst lost in the content of experience returning to our self seems to require effort. Eventually, we realise that it is what we are, not what we do. We sink deeply into our being.

A man asks about how to write from the depths of his being. Rupert suggests that he write each day, even if he writes about nothing. Also, feel that he is writing to his most intimate companion who is about to go on a long journey, as if it is the last thing you will ever say to them.

A woman who spent Christmas at a Christian monastery asks about Jesus and his non-dual understanding. Rupert responds that Jesus was a person who had recognised his true nature and his identity with God as God. He doesn't think of him as a person but as who he understood himself to be – his self, the same 'I am' that we know our self to be. Jesus the person and Christ the 'I am' are one and the same. His revelation was so profound that it has touched many people throughout history.

A woman asks if the light of being shines brighter in the guru. Rupert responds that it only shines more if you consider yourself a student. It shines the same for all. The projection depends upon the beliefs in separation and your essential nature.

A man shares that his chosen path to awareness is perception. Rupert suggests that the most important thing on the path of perception is that beauty is the recognition of the unity of being. It is never an object that is beautiful; it has the capacity to collapse the subject–object relationship and reveal reality. Objects are the way the one reality appears to us when we look at it through our perceiving facilities.

A woman asks how to share the unshareable, and shares a brief story to get feedback on her attempt to do so. Rupert thanks her for her perspective.

A man asks about moving away from a negative self-image to a positive one. Rupert suggests that it’s ultimately better to have no self-image because it's not possible to make an image of the self. It’s better simply to be that self, and then its innate qualities express themselves in our life. However, as a halfway step it is legitimate, and sometimes necessary, to develop a positive self-image.

A woman comments on the fear of death and childhood trauma stored in the head, and asks how to ease the 'hallucination' of the trauma. Rupert guides her in self-enquiry to discover the empty, open space of awareness – breathing it in, which fills up the head. The inhale brings it into the head, and the exhale moves it out. Do this several times until this loving emptiness is all around. The sensation is carried out into the space. Deal with it at this visceral level, not intellectually.

A man asks about self-consciousness, which seems to be at the centre of struggles. Rupert suggests that King Lear, as he goes about the play, can be self-conscious in two ways. One is as King Lear reflecting on himself as a person. However, he can also go deeper and be conscious of himself as John Smith. It is natural to be conscious of ourself, but on the spiritual path we take it deeper. Another name for 'self-inquiry' is to be truly 'self-conscious'.

A woman, who had previously asked Rupert about an experience she had of melting, asks about levels of enlightenment as she is still attempting to integrate that experience. Rupert responds that it's like asking if there are levels of lightness in regard to the sun. There are degrees of ignorance but no degrees of enlightenment. There is also a discussion about prostrations as a practice.

A man asks about relationships and why awareness would need to be careful about choosing a partner. Rupert suggests that awareness doesn’t choose; choice is at the level of the person. We want to find a partner with whom we can explore these matters and express them. And if we push each other's buttons, that’s just fuel for the fire of self-realisation.

A man speaks of going through what feels like being volleyed between grace and ignorance. The ignorance manifests as the feeling 'I should do something', which feels more like duty than love. He speaks of how much time he spends attending to meditation and non-dual meetings. Rupert suggests reducing the time devoted to meditation and non-dual group meetings.