The Reality of Our Self
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 49 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 49 seconds
- Recorded on: Mar 29, 2022
- Event: Seven Day Retreat at Garrison Institute – 27th March to 3rd April
A woman asks if Jean Klein’s word ‘listening’ is that the same as ‘abiding’. Rupert suggests that it is essentially the same understanding. Jen Klein means remain as awareness, be knowingly the presence of awareness. There is no energetic component when we are abiding. The energetic quality winds down. There are gaps in our thoughts, feelings, sensations and so on, but there is no gap in being.
A man expresses his gratitude for Rupert as a teacher, which he feels is similar to the relationship Rupert has with Francis Lucille.
A woman whose sister is dying asks, ‘What is this loss? Talk to me about loss.’ Rupert says that every aspect of her relationship with her sister is being lost, except for the most essential aspect of her. What is that? The fact that you share your being with her. Love is the felt sense of your shared being. You aren’t losing that; you are losing her form. The greatest gift you can give her now, nonverbally, is to convey to her that she will remain with you.
A man says he is constantly visited by a fear of dying, and he asks how to move through it. Rupert suggests that he not work directly on the fear of dying. The reason we fear death is because we are identified with our experience. Instead, go back to your being and abide there. The fear of death will dissolve in the space of awareness. Rupert leads him in self-enquiry to help him discover this being.
A woman asks about the pull to go into imagination and illusion, which seem so real. Rupert asks her if she is present, and she answers that she is. Rupert suggests that if she were not present now, she would not be having an experience now. That which is aware cannot be an illusion. What you are aware of may be an illusion, but that which is aware cannot be an illusion, the reality of our self.
A woman who recently had a near-death experience which showed her she was here to manifest love, asks for clarification of the term 'love'. Rupert responds that it is the understanding of our shared being. The word 'shared' is a concession to the separate self.
A man who has experienced synchronicities, asks, ‘What is this draw that seeks to bring us home? Is it being itself?’ Rupert said these experiences and synchronicities imply a deep connection between that which is inside and that which is outside, and that we should expect that because we are one. Reality is impressing itself upon him in the form of these experiences. Keep going.
A question is asked about many expansive glimpses that go away, and how does the word 'obstacle' fit in, as in attachment to suffering. Rupert suggests that attachment to suffering seems to happen with some, but it's not possible to be suffering and not seek happiness. Happiness lies more deeply in us than suffering, otherwise we wouldn't know what to seek. Don't allow experience to obscure the awareness of being and the happiness that is shining there.
A woman asks if Jean Klein’s word ‘listening’ is that the same as ‘abiding’. Rupert suggests that it is essentially the same understanding. Jen Klein means remain as awareness, be knowingly the presence of awareness. There is no energetic component when we are abiding. The energetic quality winds down. There are gaps in our thoughts, feelings, sensations and so on, but there is no gap in being.
A man expresses his gratitude for Rupert as a teacher, which he feels is similar to the relationship Rupert has with Francis Lucille.
A woman whose sister is dying asks, ‘What is this loss? Talk to me about loss.’ Rupert says that every aspect of her relationship with her sister is being lost, except for the most essential aspect of her. What is that? The fact that you share your being with her. Love is the felt sense of your shared being. You aren’t losing that; you are losing her form. The greatest gift you can give her now, nonverbally, is to convey to her that she will remain with you.
A man says he is constantly visited by a fear of dying, and he asks how to move through it. Rupert suggests that he not work directly on the fear of dying. The reason we fear death is because we are identified with our experience. Instead, go back to your being and abide there. The fear of death will dissolve in the space of awareness. Rupert leads him in self-enquiry to help him discover this being.
A woman asks about the pull to go into imagination and illusion, which seem so real. Rupert asks her if she is present, and she answers that she is. Rupert suggests that if she were not present now, she would not be having an experience now. That which is aware cannot be an illusion. What you are aware of may be an illusion, but that which is aware cannot be an illusion, the reality of our self.
A woman who recently had a near-death experience which showed her she was here to manifest love, asks for clarification of the term 'love'. Rupert responds that it is the understanding of our shared being. The word 'shared' is a concession to the separate self.
A man who has experienced synchronicities, asks, ‘What is this draw that seeks to bring us home? Is it being itself?’ Rupert said these experiences and synchronicities imply a deep connection between that which is inside and that which is outside, and that we should expect that because we are one. Reality is impressing itself upon him in the form of these experiences. Keep going.
A question is asked about many expansive glimpses that go away, and how does the word 'obstacle' fit in, as in attachment to suffering. Rupert suggests that attachment to suffering seems to happen with some, but it's not possible to be suffering and not seek happiness. Happiness lies more deeply in us than suffering, otherwise we wouldn't know what to seek. Don't allow experience to obscure the awareness of being and the happiness that is shining there.