We Are Never Changed by the Content of Experience

Thoughts, images and feelings arise, exist briefly and vanish. In what medium does experience arise and exist, and to where does it vanish? The dream world arises and vanishes back into the dreamer’s mind. Likewise, experience arises in the open, empty field of awareness. Be knowingly the aware openness within which all experience arises, exists and vanishes. Just as physical space is empty with room for objects within it and is never modified by whatever takes place within it, so we, this aware openness, are never changed by the content of experience. We are the changeless background against which all change takes place. With each breath feel the transparency of the space percolate deeper into every sensation, expanding into space in all directions. Awareness turns the experience of the body into itself. In the Christian tradition, this is known as the transfiguration, the shining of the body in the light of God's being.

Give it all to God, suggests Rupert in response to a woman who has suffered a stroke, the loss of her husband and is recovering from COVID-19, all in the last two months. Rupert explains that these feelings of grief, fear and anxiety are normal and natural and suggests we don’t fight them. They are part of the conditioning of the mind and the body. The Kingdom of Heaven is within and without you. We can surrender all that you are feeling to that presence.

How can we be sure that time and matter actually exist if they are not experienced? Rupert asks why it matters if something exists or not, and that it isn't a matter of reason or logic but of an experiential understanding of being unable to find or know the beginning or end of consciousness. This renders the question meaningless in terms of seeking proof that conceptual abstractions do or do not exist.

Our outer path is not opposed to our exploration of our true nature. A young woman, who longs to go deeper into who she is and wants to avoid distractions, asks if the monastic life is for her. Rupert suggests that if all she had ever wanted was solitude and a life of prayer, then yes, but if she is seeking to avoid distractions then perhaps that is not the way to go. Rupert suggests that our current circumstance is the best possible circumstances in which to explore our true nature. Rupert also suggests that it is common to have our desire for true nature eclipse all other things at first, but sometimes we neglect our outer path, which is not what we want.

Can we go beyond the limited mind in the same way that we can go beyond the limits of the body, such as in near-death and out-of-body experiences? Rupert responds that our perception of the body is thinking, feeling and perceiving. The corresponding inner experience of the death of the body would be de-localisation.

Explore your sense of lack, suggests Rupert in response to a man who prefers polygamy but lives in a society that doesn’t permit it. He has decided that God is his girlfriend and asks what he should do. Rupert suggests that whether we have a partner or not, we are married to God, and any relationship we have is a celebration of that, whether with one or multiple partners. However, it is best to explore the source of our longing and not just try to relieve it through a relationship with a person or a divine image.

What is most important way, or attribute, in connecting with and helping others? Rupert responds that there is no perfect state, just begin now with your understanding, wherever you are, as this understanding goes on indefinitely and guides the questioner in self-enquiry to this understanding.

A man says he sees clearly that there is just raw experience without a subject, but then feels a contraction to the body when he becomes aware of his true nature. Rupert suggests this implies there are only objects, which is like saying there is only one side of a coin. We are not nothing. Rupert suggests that we ask what is aware of this flow of thoughts and perceptions.

Thoughts, images and feelings arise, exist briefly and vanish. In what medium does experience arise and exist, and to where does it vanish? The dream world arises and vanishes back into the dreamer’s mind. Likewise, experience arises in the open, empty field of awareness. Be knowingly the aware openness within which all experience arises, exists and vanishes. Just as physical space is empty with room for objects within it and is never modified by whatever takes place within it, so we, this aware openness, are never changed by the content of experience. We are the changeless background against which all change takes place. With each breath feel the transparency of the space percolate deeper into every sensation, expanding into space in all directions. Awareness turns the experience of the body into itself. In the Christian tradition, this is known as the transfiguration, the shining of the body in the light of God's being.

Give it all to God, suggests Rupert in response to a woman who has suffered a stroke, the loss of her husband and is recovering from COVID-19, all in the last two months. Rupert explains that these feelings of grief, fear and anxiety are normal and natural and suggests we don’t fight them. They are part of the conditioning of the mind and the body. The Kingdom of Heaven is within and without you. We can surrender all that you are feeling to that presence.

How can we be sure that time and matter actually exist if they are not experienced? Rupert asks why it matters if something exists or not, and that it isn't a matter of reason or logic but of an experiential understanding of being unable to find or know the beginning or end of consciousness. This renders the question meaningless in terms of seeking proof that conceptual abstractions do or do not exist.

Our outer path is not opposed to our exploration of our true nature. A young woman, who longs to go deeper into who she is and wants to avoid distractions, asks if the monastic life is for her. Rupert suggests that if all she had ever wanted was solitude and a life of prayer, then yes, but if she is seeking to avoid distractions then perhaps that is not the way to go. Rupert suggests that our current circumstance is the best possible circumstances in which to explore our true nature. Rupert also suggests that it is common to have our desire for true nature eclipse all other things at first, but sometimes we neglect our outer path, which is not what we want.

Can we go beyond the limited mind in the same way that we can go beyond the limits of the body, such as in near-death and out-of-body experiences? Rupert responds that our perception of the body is thinking, feeling and perceiving. The corresponding inner experience of the death of the body would be de-localisation.

Explore your sense of lack, suggests Rupert in response to a man who prefers polygamy but lives in a society that doesn’t permit it. He has decided that God is his girlfriend and asks what he should do. Rupert suggests that whether we have a partner or not, we are married to God, and any relationship we have is a celebration of that, whether with one or multiple partners. However, it is best to explore the source of our longing and not just try to relieve it through a relationship with a person or a divine image.

What is most important way, or attribute, in connecting with and helping others? Rupert responds that there is no perfect state, just begin now with your understanding, wherever you are, as this understanding goes on indefinitely and guides the questioner in self-enquiry to this understanding.

A man says he sees clearly that there is just raw experience without a subject, but then feels a contraction to the body when he becomes aware of his true nature. Rupert suggests this implies there are only objects, which is like saying there is only one side of a coin. We are not nothing. Rupert suggests that we ask what is aware of this flow of thoughts and perceptions.