The Silence of the Heart
- Duration: Video: 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 36 seconds / Audio: 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 36 seconds
- Recorded on: Oct 17, 2021
- Event: Seven Day Retreat at Garrison Institute - October 2021
A mostly silent meditation. Silence of the mind is experienced as emptiness. Silence of the heart is experienced as fullness.
A man describes an uncomfortable need to express creatively and asks how to distinguish need that comes from lack, from that which comes from the daimon. Rupert suggests he not try to change or question the impulse to create, as it doesn't need to be understood, only expressed.
A man whose wife passed away, describes a new relationship with her and with love that emerged after listening to a beautiful piece of music. Rupert and the man have a brief discussion in remembrance of his wife.
A questioner asks about healing and wholeness. Rupert responds that we are already whole and never truly in need of healing, and the recognition of that wholeness is the ultimate healing.
A man whose mother exhibits undiagnosed borderline personality disorder realises that he cannot change or save her, but he has concerns about his father getting lost in her chaos and asks how to help him. Rupert suggests his father wants his sorrow to be seen.
A woman expresses her heartfelt gratitude to Rupert, and everyone at the retreat.
A man who has recently had a glimpse of non-dual understanding during a psychedelic experience still feels something is missing and that happiness isn't really possible. As he waits for Rupert’s response, he comes to understanding and thanks Rupert but realises there is no one to thank. Rupert discusses his own feelings of gratitude.
A questioner asks if it is necessary to resolve difficult emotions, or trauma, to become established in the understanding. Rupert responds that it is not, that most healing happens below the threshold of our waking-state mind.
"A woman who speaks Hebrew says there is no 'am' in Hebrew, and asks how to say 'I am' without the 'am', and suggests 'I present' is closest. Rupert recounts that Ramana Maharshi said, 'I, I', which is even closer than 'I am.' "
A woman, who describes a beautiful experience about her now-dead mother that has continued during retreat, speaks of returning her mother back to God. Rupert speaks of a similarly profound experience.
A woman who lost her children expresses her gratitude for all the expressions of grief and loved ones passing, and the recognition of their presence here. Rupert's response is a long silence.
Rupert closes the retreat with a verse from Primo Levi's poem, To My Friends.
A mostly silent meditation. Silence of the mind is experienced as emptiness. Silence of the heart is experienced as fullness.
A man describes an uncomfortable need to express creatively and asks how to distinguish need that comes from lack, from that which comes from the daimon. Rupert suggests he not try to change or question the impulse to create, as it doesn't need to be understood, only expressed.
A man whose wife passed away, describes a new relationship with her and with love that emerged after listening to a beautiful piece of music. Rupert and the man have a brief discussion in remembrance of his wife.
A questioner asks about healing and wholeness. Rupert responds that we are already whole and never truly in need of healing, and the recognition of that wholeness is the ultimate healing.
A man whose mother exhibits undiagnosed borderline personality disorder realises that he cannot change or save her, but he has concerns about his father getting lost in her chaos and asks how to help him. Rupert suggests his father wants his sorrow to be seen.
A woman expresses her heartfelt gratitude to Rupert, and everyone at the retreat.
A man who has recently had a glimpse of non-dual understanding during a psychedelic experience still feels something is missing and that happiness isn't really possible. As he waits for Rupert’s response, he comes to understanding and thanks Rupert but realises there is no one to thank. Rupert discusses his own feelings of gratitude.
A questioner asks if it is necessary to resolve difficult emotions, or trauma, to become established in the understanding. Rupert responds that it is not, that most healing happens below the threshold of our waking-state mind.
"A woman who speaks Hebrew says there is no 'am' in Hebrew, and asks how to say 'I am' without the 'am', and suggests 'I present' is closest. Rupert recounts that Ramana Maharshi said, 'I, I', which is even closer than 'I am.' "
A woman, who describes a beautiful experience about her now-dead mother that has continued during retreat, speaks of returning her mother back to God. Rupert speaks of a similarly profound experience.
A woman who lost her children expresses her gratitude for all the expressions of grief and loved ones passing, and the recognition of their presence here. Rupert's response is a long silence.
Rupert closes the retreat with a verse from Primo Levi's poem, To My Friends.