Why Is Being Described as Peaceful if It’s Nothing?

"When we say ‘I am’ and being is nothing – I picture it like clear jelly – why do we then describe the nature of being as loving, compassionate, peaceful? Doesn’t that mean it has to know upset and conflict? Rupert says: ‘You’re absolutely right. Take the analogy of empty space, which, relative to physical objects is nothing, similar to the sort of nothing that being or consciousness is. In being or consciousness, there’s no objective content. So, your question: why then is it legitimate to speak of being as peaceful, compassionate or loving? I don’t refer to it as compassionate, but I do refer to it as inherently peaceful and inherently loving. Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t assign any qualities to it. Why do I? Because I’m not trying to be accurate. I’m trying to be evocative. I’m trying to evoke in you the experience of being, the knowing of being. Love is the nature of being. Compassion is its expression in everyday life.’"

From event 05 - 12 October, 2025 Seven-Day Retreat at Garrison Institute, 5–12 October 2025

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