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Guided Nondual Meditation with Michael Taft
Introduction
Welcome to tonight’s guided meditation. How many individuals have by no means sat on this room earlier than, increase your hand. Okay, you’ve sat on this room earlier than a lot of occasions. For these of you who haven’t been on this room earlier than, we’re going to sit down for an hour, silently and with motionlessness. So I’m going to sit down nonetheless for an hour. I’ll lead a guided meditation. In order for you, you may comply with the guided meditation. When you don’t wish to, don’t comply with it. If I begin doing one thing that’s simply towards your faith or makes you faint or no matter, simply don’t do it. You’re welcome to not do it. Apart from that, on the finish of the sit, I’ll speak for some time. Then we’ll have some Q&A, if in case you have stuff you wish to report–hey you already know my head blew off, or I hated that, or no matter, you’re welcome to share, we’ll carry a microphone round after which we’ll additionally do Q&A.
First, earlier than we even verify in with ourselves let’s simply transfer only a tiny tiny bit. So the very first thing I would like you to do is do wrist rotations. You don’t need to do it like I’m doing it however you already know that is the thought circles along with your wrists–any sample you need–after which circles along with your elbows. Fluid, not like a robotic, get some fluidity in there. After which circles along with your shoulders and spot you are able to do shoulders and elbows and wrists suddenly. A lot of totally different circles inside circles however the level is to get actual unfastened. Then you may transfer your backbone up and down like waves going up and down your backbone like that, but additionally twisties, okay, so good fluid kind stuff simply really feel that fluidity coming in there. Your entire physique is principally water with a bit of little bit of magic powder in it so simply tune into the water half. If you wish to you may even do form of like hula hoop kind stuff and simply really feel that fluidity coming in. Then step by step, step by step, get smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller whereas nonetheless really transferring tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny circles nonetheless feeling that
till you may’t inform whether or not it’s doing a circle or not simply really feel as fastidiously, fastidiously, fastidiously noticing as you may because it step by step involves a relaxation. Good.
Meditation
Now, ask your self the query, what’s it wish to be me proper now, and tune in. How does it really feel to be you On this second? Your ideas, your feelings, physique sensations, and even all of the stuff occurring round you, inside you. Simply tune into that whole climate system of expertise and spot what that’s like. And no matter it’s like, let or not it’s precisely that. We’re letting go of the necessity to change it, to regulate it, to make it into one thing higher, to rework it, to see it in a wonderful approach or no matter. We’re simply as a substitute letting or not it’s precisely what it’s. If it’s a hell realm, simply settle for that it’s a hell realm proper now. If it’s a heaven realm let or not it’s a heaven realm. If it’s another sort of realm, that’s okay, too. So let or not it’s precisely what it’s proper now and let’s simply sit with that for some time, simply form of checking in and letting go of any want to vary it for now.
Okay, tonight we’re going to remain actual easy. I simply need you to note the facet of expertise that’s vast open and conscious, and simply as a lot as attainable, come from that place. Discover I’m not saying make some a part of expertise vast open and conscious. I’m saying discover the half that’s already vast open and conscious. You’ll be able to’t manufacture that–the ego can’t do something to make that. So there’s actually nothing on your egoic sense of self to do besides principally get out of the way in which. If the egoic sense of self says, how do I get out of the way in which? That’s getting in the way in which, so as a substitute simply tune in to the a part of expertise that’s already vast open, conscious. Every time the thoughts grabs onto anything, as quickly as you discover it’s grabbed onto something simply let go of that. Drop it. Come again to vast open vast awakeness.
Discover that there’s no meditation object. When you’re used to having one thing to concentrate on just like the breath or physique sensation or a mantra or a visualization or no matter, on this factor we’re doing proper now there’s nothing to concentrate on. As a substitute, we’re simply coming again to vast open vast awakeness that’s all the time been there. If you end up following a practice of thought, simply let go, come again to vast open vast awakeness. If you end up doing a bunch of physique stretching that’s not what we’re doing. We’re sitting as vast open vast awakeness, letting the physique be okay simply as it’s.
If you end up meditating in your respiration and that’s a robust behavior since you’ve been skilled into it, that’s okay. However that’s not what we’re doing. That’s specializing in an object. As a substitute we’re simply resting as vast openness that’s awake.
The important factor right here is to simply belief that if we sit, not giving the egoic sense of self something to do, it’ll be okay. Typically this type of meditation is known as ego hunger since you’re not even giving the ego a meditation observe to do. It has no function on this approach of sitting, and so the extra you’re employed on this approach, the extra it simply sort of settles down into the background, as only a operate quite than one thing you’re being or a masks you’re coming from. So, if you end up attempting to determine how to do that accurately, or in any respect, simply cease that. When you’re scrambling round looking for one thing to concentrate on, simply cease that. If you end up getting pulled away into trains of thought time and again, that’s very regular. Simply every time you discover it, simply loosen up. You don’t need to cease the thought or slap your hand or no matter, you simply loosen up and are available again to vast, openness with out doing something in any respect. You’re simply sitting as vast open vast awakeness.
Typically the ego tries to become involved and tries to make consciousness one way or the other vast open and drive it, or do one thing to make consciousness open. However that’s, in fact, not possible. Consciousness is all the time vast open. There’s completely nothing you are able to do to make it extra open. So, in the event you’re spending time attempting to increase it or make it huge, or widen it, simply drop all that. It’s already vast. That’s simply getting concerned in doing one thing. It’s all the time utterly awake. However it may be the case that we get actual sleepy. One of the best factor to do about that’s to sit down up actual straight–don’t slouch–maintain your head up straight, and sit along with your eyes open, if that helps. In any other case, on this approach of working, generally you will get sort of drowsy, so we sit up good and straight, and maintain our eyes open so we keep good and alert. However that’s simply serving to by way of the embodied properties of wakefulness, whereas the awakeness of consciousness is all the time utterly awake.
This observe in a approach is totally trusting the all the time already conscious, vast open nature of expertise and that there’s nothing in any respect we do that may enhance that. However, we are able to let go of the issues that distract from it; let go of all of the involvement with doing doing doing doing doing; the sensation of doing; the sense of taking management; or altering, or suppressing, or denying, or increasing, or all that stuff that distracts us from this already current vast awakeness which has all the time been there.
Anytime you discover your self all concerned in pondering, simply loosen up. The pondering can occur–you’re not attempting to regulate or change or cease or deny the pondering, simply don’t be concerned with it in any respect. It’s similar to birds chattering within the bushes or one thing. It may be there as a lot because it desires however you’re not notably decoding it into which means it’s simply sounds and your head that you simply’re not concerned with all of it and in the event you discover you’re getting concerned with it simply loosen up come again to vast open vast awakeness that’s not concerned with it.
When you completely can not do that and your thoughts is simply operating in a circle operating in a circle attempting to do it proper, do it proper, do it proper, if you wish to, you may form of again up and simply use the breath as a meditation object. Concentrate on that and quiet down. In any other case, simply let it run in a circle. Don’t fear about it. Hold resting as vast open vast awakeness with nothing to do. There’s completely nothing to do.
Discover in case your expertise is simply that you simply maintain discovering issues which can be mistaken and also you wish to repair them. You realize, this feels bizarre and I ought to change it. Or that factor will not be proper and I’ve acquired to regulate it–that’s all of the ego simply justifying its existence. We’re simply letting go of that utterly proper now we’re not killing it or denying it or something, we’re simply pushing within the clutch, so to talk, and simply letting it spin however we’re not partaking it. We’re simply sitting with vast open vast awakeness with the whole lot simply the way in which it’s and letting go of that elementary sense of aggression. That deep aggression towards ourselves that the whole lot’s not proper, and I’ve to vary, it and I want to do that, and do that, and do that, and do that, and do that–to attempt to really feel okay. And spot that once you let go of that and simply sit as your individual already current vast open vast awakeness, that does already really feel simply advantageous. It doesn’t want to vary something. It has elementary pleasure and compassion in the direction of the self.
What if the whole lot is already all proper simply the way in which it’s? What if, only for the time of this meditation, only for the remaining little time of this meditation, you took an opportunity and simply laid to relaxation the necessity to change the whole lot only for a short while, and simply let vast open vast awakeness–which is your elementary nature. Be the place you’re coming from. You’ll be able to’t do it. It’s not a factor you are able to do. It’s only a factor you may cease distracting your self from in the event you let go of all doing, you’ll simply naturally come to relaxation in conscious, vast openness, not partaking with any ideas in any respect.
As I mentioned, the meditation is asking you to belief that your elementary nature is principally sane and open and joyous and type with out you doing something in any respect. The extra you loosen up like this, the extra you begin to actually tune into the vast openness. Once more, you’re not making it extra vast open; it’s simply that you simply’re noticing how boundless and actually unrestricted it’s. It’s not confined in any approach. The egoic sense of self is like velcro for ideas. Each thought sticks to it after which it collapses across the thought and simply grinds and grinds and grinds. However vast open vast awakeness has no hooks in any respect for ideas. It’s clear to pondering. Considering simply doesn’t catch on it, so, once more, there could also be a lot of ideas, however the vast awakeness simply doesn’t seize on in any respect. My buddy Rick says it’s like Teflon for ideas, however I don’t consider it as Teflon, I consider it as clear. The ideas simply transfer via and there’s nothing to catch on. It’s simply vast open.
If you end up drowsy in any respect, sit up, open your eyes, come again to presence. That is the observe of presence. Most of us all day lengthy we’re working towards non-presence, regularly distracting from what’s really occurring. Right here, we’re letting go of all distraction and simply settling into the pure deep presence that’s all the time there, all the time out there, all the time our pure situation. Actually, you may’t observe presence. You simply observe not distracting from presence. We let go of distracting from presence, after which we naturally loosen up again into whole presence. It’s not a matter of focusing, or constricting our consideration, or narrowing and tightening. Relatively, it’s the alternative. We loosen up and let go, and that brings us into pure presence.
Discover that you simply’re not placing your self into an altered state. If we do actually robust, tight consideration focus model meditation we are able to usually find yourself in a very altered state, and that may really feel good, and you’ll inform one thing’s occurring and so forth. However altered states come and go. This isn’t an altered state: that is simply your elementary being. This by no means comes and goes. You’ll be able to distract your self from it, nevertheless it’s all the time there, behind the whole lot.
So in a approach, if there’s any grievance about this, it’s like, that’s completely boring, that’s probably the most regular pure factor on the earth. It doesn’t really feel like a cool altered state. So in the event you choose the completely neurotic anxious tight, “acquired to vary, acquired to vary, the whole lot’s mistaken, I’ve acquired to modify, the whole lot’s mistaken, I’ve acquired to do that, I’ve acquired to try this, I don’t really feel proper, I don’t really feel proper, I acquired to vary, change, change, change, change,” you then’re welcome to try this. Enter the world of the egoic self the place the whole lot’s all the time mistaken, and regardless of how a lot you modify, you may’t change sufficient to ever really feel okay, as a result of its entire approach of being is to not really feel okay. Or you may simply let that go. Calm down, discover the vast openness and vast awakeness that’s already there. Let go of grabbing onto ideas and simply be current, be open, be awake. It’s not an altered state, nevertheless it does really feel actually good. There’s sufficient room to exist. There’s sufficient house to simply be.
Once more, if you end up misplaced in thought, simply loosen up. Let go. Thought will toddle on and also you simply come again to being vast open vast awakeness. Nothing may very well be extra grounding or regulating or harmonizing or soothing than simply merely resting as our personal already current conscious vast openness. Let go of doing something in any respect. Simply drop it.
Effortlessly simply resting, or simply resting as what we really already are, and all the time have been, with out doing something in any respect. We’re coming again to our vast openness, our vast awakeness, freshness and presence. It’s all the time there after we simply cease attempting so laborious to distract away from it, as quickly as we let go of distracting away from it. Settle into presence. It’s proper there. It’s all the time proper there.
Excellent. Be happy to maneuver and stretch, however discover in one other approach, there’s nothing to let go of, no meditation to cease doing because you weren’t actually doing something in any respect anyway. So it’s fairly simple to simply maintain going with it simply in a special posture.
Dharma Discuss, Q&A
The person who I consider as one of many actually, actually foremost lecturers within the US within the final many many years, Adyashanti, or Adya, retired final night time. He’s really fairly younger, too, however he gave his final speak final night time. I didn’t see it however I do know that occurred. His companion, Mukti is stepping ahead however nonetheless, in honor of Adyashanti, that was a meditation flippantly in his model–not likely, it’s nonetheless how I’d educate it. I bear in mind him coming ahead 25 years in the past, and actually speaking in a approach that was fairly totally different than the opposite individuals I’d consider as Advaita lecturers on the time. These lecturers saved saying–that is like within the mid-90s–that any meditation you’re doing is simply reinforcing your ego and also you’ve acquired to let go, let go, let go. However my intuitive take was that they had been filled with shit. I didn’t belief them. They appeared to be doing a language sport, sort of a thoughts fuck, whereas Adyashanti, who was saying one thing related, was not filled with shit. He was clearly coming from the house that he was speaking about. So I all the time actually appreciated that, even when I didn’t all the time comply with what he was saying.
The factor that he was saying and the factor that I’m all the time saying too today is that it’s only a matter of trusting your self. That you’re already in possession, so to talk, of the totally awake being that you simply aspire to be. That’s already there. It’s not already there like let’s say–it is a basic picture–a Golden Buddha statue that’s buried 100 toes underground, and many people suppose, nicely, it may be there, nevertheless it’s a gold statue that’s buried 100 toes underground. There’s latrine sewage and tree roots and lifeless animals and rubbish and stuff that I’ve to scrub out and do all this work to shovel out and get out of the way in which. Then I’ll get right down to that golden statue that’s coated with muck and I’ve to scrub it off and clear it off and clear it off and clear it off after which possibly it can shine proper. That’s when even in the event you settle for that you simply’ve already acquired this awake nature the thought is nicely I’ve acquired to sort of clear the gunk off of it for it to shine, and it’s me doing all this work to go down and get that factor after which polish it up.
However it’s not like that at al–not even a bit of bit–as a result of, who’s it that’s figuring out there’s this Golden Buddha down there? Who is aware of the place to dig and who is aware of find out how to dig and what to get out of the way in which and who is aware of find out how to clear the stuff off? And who is aware of find out how to polish it up after which, what does whoever that’s do to understand that Buddha? Who’s that that’s doing all that? We predict we’re going to get there like that, however that’s all a whole runaround, as a result of it’s–simply to stick with the metaphor–the Golden Buddha that’s doing all that stuff anyway. There’s not some separate person who isn’t that, that should do all that stuff. In actual fact, it’s the concept that there’s a separate individual that should do all that stuff that’s the distraction I’m speaking about. That entire mannequin–I’m going to dig and I’m going to shine–that’s what’s in the way in which.
Now, it may be the case that our behavior of being that doer is so robust, that distraction is so robust, that it may’t simply by itself, regardless of how a lot somebody says simply loosen up and be the vast open vast awakeness that you simply already are, it simply can’t let go of the behavior. For some individuals, they solely have to listen to that when, and the entire the sport is up. The entire thing breaks open. They simply acknowledge their very own innate vast awakeness: they’re executed. That’s exceedingly uncommon, nevertheless it occurs, as a result of that’s the reality, so each every so often somebody’s ordinary clenching into personhood, that sort of doership, is relaxed sufficient already that they simply hear it as soon as and it simply drops away. Personhood continues to be occurring, the sock puppet didn’t get burned–it’s nonetheless there–however they’re simply not inhabiting it.
However, it may be the case that for many people, virtually everybody, the behavior is a bit of stronger. So we do practices, and the practices are aimed toward recognizing that over, and over once more, aimed toward recognizing that. However it may very well be the case that we’re so caught up in attempting to rework into the sort of factor that may let go, that we simply work on that transformation ceaselessly, and by no means let go. So that you’ll discover some lecturers, some entire traditions which can be all about “simply sit there,” like we simply did. That’s all you do ceaselessly. Different traditions, we’re going to work at it, work at it, work at it, however then by no means let go. Some, we’re going to simply let go however possibly it’s like individuals aren’t prepared for that and it by no means occurs.
So, we are able to discover one thing within the center. You are available right here many weeks and we’ll do some visualization, we’ll do some Brahma Viharas, we’ll do some pranayama. However we’re all the time coming again to that vast openness additionally as a result of we’re studying to let go after which resting. Studying to open, after which discovering the openness proper that’s already there. So we’re sort of massaging the stiffness out of the system in order that it may simply loosen up. So if we’re doing work it’s simply form of like oiling up these muscle tissue a bit of bit in order that they will simply do what they already know find out how to do. So there could be some studying concerned, some work concerned, and so forth.
I believe that’s nice, however we lose sight of the truth that we’re not one way or the other manufacturing awakening. So long as you’re manufacturing awakening, it can by no means occur, until simply by accident, as a result of it’s all the time there for everybody it doesn’t matter what. So it’d occur anyway, however you may’t manufacture it regardless of how laborious you attempt. When you’re going to do something with egoic effort, simply get good at not being distracted from conscious, vast openness. It’s actually, very easy for the exercise to grow to be central.
So the work we’re doing is supposedly in the direction of awakening, however actually all we’re doing is that the doer of that work is simply self-perpetuating its personal delusion. That occurs on a regular basis. It’s nonetheless good work. It’s nonetheless serving to you focus or clear up or not be an addict or no matter–it’s good for you. However you may overlook that there’s actually simply that ultimate recognition that’s already there, regardless of how good you might be, regardless of how laborious you’re employed, regardless of how laborious you attempt, it’s there it doesn’t matter what. It’s already there it doesn’t matter what.
Who hears the automotive alarm once you’re lifeless asleep and it wakes you up? Earlier than you get up, who hears that? Your ego doesn’t hear it. Your ego is asleep. Your dreaming thoughts doesn’t hear it. Your dreaming thoughts’s asleep. You’re lifeless asleep, what’s it that hears it and wakes up? One thing is all the time conscious even once you’re lifeless asleep. There’s part of you that’s conscious all the time all the time all the time it’s all the time on. I’m simply asking you to note that and relaxation as that. It’s even there once you’re lifeless asleep. That relaxed, it’s nonetheless simply *ding* vast open, conscious. It’s not any effort to have that there, proper? You’re asleep! And weirdly, the extra you do that observe, the extra you’ll each every so often simply, with out doing something, you’ll be lucid in your goals since you’re simply used to tuning into being vast open and conscious. Otherwise you’ll be lucid even in deep dreamless sleep since you’re simply used to being vast open and conscious. It simply sort of occurs. It’s all the time there.
Good, so if in case you have questions or feedback or critiques, otherwise you wish to inform me how a lot you hate me or no matter, increase your hand and we’ll carry you a microphone. Simply bear in mind that is going out reside to the interwebs, so it’s not precisely non-public.
Questioner 1: You talked about one thing about lucid dreaming, which could be very attention-grabbing, however you additionally talked about lucid sleep. Might you speak a bit of bit about that?
Michael: Yeah, we are able to grow to be awake throughout a dream, however the dream continues, so now we have lucidity in a dream. The identical factor can occur in deep dreamless sleep, the place we grow to be lucid in deep dreamless sleep however the deep dreamless sleep continues. That’s all. And, actually, it’s the identical lucidity that I’m asking you to have when you’re awake strolling round. Simply grow to be awake in precisely that very same technique to this, which is a special sort of dream. It’s all the identical lucidity. So we study various things from changing into lucid in every of these locations. The best way I’m instructing it is a totally different avenue of lucidity with totally different objectives than the everyday Western lucid dreaming or lucid sleep observe. These are sleep-induced lucid goals or sleep-induced lucid sleep the place you come up from the place you already know, you go right into a dream, after which grow to be lucid inside it. Sometimes your purpose is to satisfy your fantasies or no matter. Whereas after we do it from a meditative perspective, we usually do it the opposite approach, going from wakefulness into lucid dreaming or wakefulness into lucid sleep. However it may simply by accident occur the opposite approach and the purpose, as a substitute of fulfilling your fantasies, is to have the ability to meditate there as nicely. Discover the standing of the dreaming world when you’re lucid dreaming. It’s all a building. Even the standing of being in lucid sleep, the place there’s really no sensory enter of any type: nothing. There’s no sound, there’s no physique sensation, there’s no ideas, there’s no nothing, however you’re awake. That’s attention-grabbing. That’s a strong place to note.
Questioner 1: Thanks
Michael: yep, different stuff, feedback, questions?
Questioner 2: Simply wished to say two issues, one is the way in which that you simply felt about Adyashanti all these years in the past, that’s how I really feel about your teachings, which is like I’ve executed quite a lot of meditation and it’s like, put the headphones in. You’re like, okay, cool, my ideas are clouds–yeah! That is one thing that I’ve now been doing for a couple of yr each single week, generally extra, and it’s actually strong. I’ve but to listen to you spew some bullshit, in order that’s some suggestions.
The opposite facet of this, which is bizarre, is like, I suppose it’s like a query remark blended. It’s this factor I’ve been fighting which is just like the awakeness, the traits of it that emerge, proper? I’ve in all probability introduced this query up greater than as soon as. What do you do with it, proper? What do you proceed to do? It’s very easy to see from awake consciousness all the pitfalls of distancing your self from the appearances that you simply expertise, or moving into them. The remark query is what’s the purpose? However that’s sort of ineffective, proper? Do you simply proceed to let go, to let go, to let go, to let go? Guess that’s my query.
Michael: If that is Music Faculty, you simply requested me, what track ought to I play? Play a track that you simply really feel like enjoying, proper? That’s the worst query. Go fly, little butterfly–do your factor. There’s what I consider as a failure mode concerned on this approach of working. Discover, for all of the final weeks I maintain going into the do nothing, however then really feel the power, and are available out. Tonight, simply as a tribute, tonight went out as a tribute to Adyashanti in Los Gatos. We simply went into the stillness half. However that’s like I’m all the time saying, that’s solely midway there as a result of you may simply relaxation as stillness–cool! However the extra you try this, the extra power retains coming as much as do shit. However it may go awry if it then will get caught within the equipment of the ego, and you then go do the ego stuff. That’s what we’ve been doing our entire lives. As a substitute, if that equipment doesn’t get engaged, you simply begin doing stuff. It’s the identical sport: don’t interact the equipment.
Questioner 2: I believe it’s a concern factor. Like, I’m stopping myself from doing stuff as a result of I’m like, oh no, what if my ego will get in right here and fucks up the chocolate once more.
Michael: That’s the ego speaking. So, simply to place it in probably the most woo attainable language, the power simply desires to do stuff. And also you go along with it, and there’s an inside letting go, however you go along with it, okay, and it’ll really feel very alive and really empty on the similar time–tremendous empty. There’s no person doing it. There’s no payoff, and it simply retains feeling extra alive and extra energized. After a when you have quite a lot of alive power, and no person’s doing it.
Questioner 2: That resonates, nevertheless it’s very horrifying to me proper now as a result of it’s new. So thanks.
Questioner 3: Hello Michael. One factor that was a bit of bit tough this time round was my leg acquired fairly painful about two-thirds of the way in which in. Normally, after I do a extra vipassana kind observe, it’s like, concentrate on it, and that does assist with the ache a bit. On this case there’s simply quite a lot of “don’t do something about it,” and it made it trickier to expertise any degree of reduction. So, I’m questioning if in case you have something to supply about that.
Michael: Yeah, so we do know that in the event you do actual centered vipassana on it there could be great quantity of reduction in that, proper? So, that may be an awesome factor to do. However, why does the vipassana provide you with reduction? What’s the important high quality that’s doing it, or offering it?
Questioner 3: Effectively, at the very least in my subjective expertise, it turns the feeling into one thing that’s a bit of bit I don’t know–fluffy. It simply sort of bubbles there for a bit.
Michael: Yeah, so I’d interpret that utilizing Buddhist language: you’re seeing the vacancy of the feeling which is providing you with quite a lot of equanimity round it. What does it imply to say see the vacancy of one thing? It means we’re not partaking thought constructs round it. We’re not making it right into a factor. We’re seeing that it’s a wide-open move of expertise. So, on this approach of working all you do is discover that even that ache is simply vast open vast awakeness. You’re not making it into an object. It’s really the draw back of getting into as vipassana: as you make it into an object after which slowly by concentrating on it so much, you come to see a few of its non-object-ness. Whereas, after we do it this manner, you simply don’t flip it into an object within the first place, proper? It’s only a move of sensation in vast openness, so in the event you don’t seize on to the thought of the ache as an object, it goes approach additional than the vipassana with out even doing something.
Questioner 3: Yeah, I believe it’d simply be that I’m used to doing it a method so sort of doing the alternative observe though it will get to the identical place.
Michael: It’ll get to the identical place, however even deeper, okay.
Questioner 3: It’s good to know thanks.
Michael: Good query. Did you’ve a query?
Questioner 4: I believe mine is extra of a report additionally. I really feel the 90s meditations are coming again into vogue today. It’s sort of entertaining. I really feel like after I’m watching YouTube, all that retains popping up. It’s just like the 90’s talks by Jack Kornfield and Adyashanti and all of those Northern California luminaries. I believe we talked about it in one other group however I’m attempting to wrap my head round working with dualistic practices, like Theravada-style practices in nondual context.
What involves thoughts is belief and I really feel such as you talked about belief in a nondual context. The way you simply sit there and also you belief that the whole lot is okay, you already are that Golden Buddha. However, to me, what I understand sitting right here, but additionally beforehand, how belief can also be a key to extra dualistic practices. How, once you’re digging via the roots and lifeless our bodies it’s not essentially about purification or attempting to see one thing, like how fucked up you might be, or your loved ones is. It’s extra about sort of artificially creating adversity so you can belief in your self and observe within the prospects. There are such a lot of sayings about lovers break up simply to make up. It’s virtually like it’s a must to create that initiation for your self, that hardship, so you can bond even additional with the potential for deepening. Even once you acquired there you may nonetheless really feel sort of agitated.
Like what’s subsequent? Is there extra? How lengthy can I keep there? It looks like once you’re utilizing this adversity as a chance to see how one can undergo that possibly nonetheless struggling and nonetheless not feeling such as you’re getting it. However on the similar time cultivating that deeper belief in a chance and to me that become a special orientation in comparison with the Christian or Judaic idea of needing to purify or I have to do XYZ. Or possibly even like a Hindu idea of like conceal and search of Shiva/Shakti and the way once more the way you artificially cut up issues simply so you can see the wholeness.
Michael: You realize there’s a very attention-grabbing approach of understanding meditation. For most individuals, we consider meditation as a specific approach. Or a specific, possibly a number of, explicit methods or entire traditions of many methods. I do know you already know this, however we are able to do the identical approach with totally different views. So really the outline of what you do may be similar however the place you’re coming from could be very totally different, and it results in a special final result, as a result of you’ve a special view though you’re doing precisely the identical factor approach, proper? You with me thus far?
So what you’re doing proper now, with what you simply mentioned, is you’re bringing a nondual view again to dualistic methods. That’s the way you’re speculated to do it; that’s precisely proper, we take the nondual view. Let me begin over once more and say we are able to say, oh, these methods are dualistic and these are nondualistic methods, and to a sure extent that’s true. However it’s additionally mistaken, as a result of even all of the dualistic methods we are able to carry nondual view to these and do them precisely as they’re described however from a very totally different view, after which they’ve this whole nondual impact. So that you’re bringing a Zen view again into what you’re describing and that and it’s actually waking it up.
You’ll be able to simply see it once you’re speaking about it, in order that view will not be typical, that’s not like how these are taught from inside their very own traditions normally. But when we carry our personal awake consciousness again into them, that is the factor from the view of awake consciousness we’re allowed to do any meditation–even dualistic meditations–as a result of they’re not dualistic in the event you’re doing them from the conscious openness vast openness. So does that tackle what you’re speaking about?
Questioner 4: I suppose just a bit nuance to that–after I mentioned belief, I meant it’s purely psychological belief. So the place I’m at now, all of my meditations flip into psychological work and I spotted meditation has nothing to do with awakening or something. To me, it’s like meditation is sort of ineffective nevertheless it’s only a software for me to work with my psychological states which at this level is belief, and that’s the worth of it that I’m getting from any methods, twin or nondual.
Michael: Yeah, attention-grabbing. So one of many most important issues we’re attempting to develop for after I say belief your self in nondual meditation, is to get that belief, that confidence after which one thing new begins to occur. So I ponder as you already know your psychology transforms, in the event you may begin not noticing your meditation is de facto altering additionally proper again into one thing fairly totally different. Let’s maintain going.
Questioner 5: Hello, whereas we’re doing vipassana evaluating and contrasting with this observe, I discover so much much less consciousness of intention, which might really feel like spontaneity however I’m unsure whether or not I’m lacking one thing, or that’s a function, or what to make of that?
Michael: I believe spontaneity is strictly the appropriate description. What you’re calling intention we may simply translate as attempting to do one thing. And from the primary minute, I’m like don’t attempt to do one thing, proper, don’t do something. So, in a approach, we’re having no intention in any respect besides to simply sit, after which no matter occurs is spontaneous.
Questioner 5: Gotcha, proper, thanks.
Questioner 6: Hello, on this sit, you mentioned awakeness and I used to be usually drawn to the feeling of how brilliant my eyes are, or how vast my imaginative and prescient is.
Michael: What was noticing that? No matter was noticing the brightness or noticing…
Questioner 6: It felt not brilliant, and never vast, and never open. So, at any time when I used to be looking for white and/or vast and brilliant and open, it felt away from no matter was noticing. It felt out into different elements of consideration consciousness or one thing.
Michael: Yeah. No matter was noticing, that’s the factor I’m speaking about.
Questioner 6: Okay. How does that, when listening to an instruction, and the instruction is pointing to one thing else for you, like how would you…
Michael: Simply go along with your expertise, all the time, okay. I’ll say that in the event you maintain tuning into the factor that’s noticing, it gained’t be positioned anyplace it’s not positioned in a spot. So finally you’ll discover this openness and vast awakeness and vast openness, as a result of at first we expect the noticer is positioned ready however the extra you examine that the extra you discover that it’s not positioned anyplace. However discover out for your self. I simply suspect that that’s what you’ll discover finally.
Questioner 7: Hello Michael. One factor I observed is that there’s an emphasis on stillness
Michael: Did I ever use the phrase Stillness?
Questioner 7: I believe you urged not transferring, and my query is, can’t we transfer however simply be vast open and conscious as we do it?
Michael: You could possibly, however this meditation is tremendously with out guidelines, and what I’ve discovered is it helps to have one or two little guidelines simply to have some construction. It seems that it’s actually attention-grabbing to note that the extra you’re hooked into your pondering the extra you’ll fidget, and the much less you’re hooked into your pondering your physique will simply begin to actually, simply loosen up. So, we’re not tightly sitting in stillness, we’re similar to a bag of sand, moist sand, simply so it turns into an attention-grabbing suggestions for your self, to see how a lot neurotic, you already know, you simply can’t cease transferring actually.
So positive, it might be the case that, oh my leg’s asleep so that you slowly transfer it. However what I’m what I’m actually pointing to is the form of like stuff that, in case your eyes are closed you’re not noticing, however a lot of individuals can’t sit nonetheless as a result of they’re so hooked into the neurosis, which is okay, that’s the place we begin. However it’s like that is providing some suggestions about that proper, discover that in the event you decouple from the neurotic ideas your physique can really feel okay rapidly, and truly does really feel okay. It’s the ideas about it that don’t really feel okay, and so there’s a very direct suggestions factor there that’s tremendous attention-grabbing. So a part of it’s simply providing a bit of bit of truly useful construction to one thing that’s very unstructured and a part of it’s there’s some suggestions in there. Make any sense?
Questioner 7: Yeah, thanks.
Questioner 8: Hello. The instruction to note consciousness is humorous to me.
Michael: Did I ever say discover consciousness?
Questioner 8: That may be my very own mind
Michael: Typically I say that, however I don’t suppose I mentioned that tonight. However, possibly I did.
Questioner 8: That’s the place I went with it. After I begin a meditation like that I’ll be like, okay, consciousness is that this factor I have to not create however let or not it’s and I get you already know on the backside of the hill or no matter there it looks like consciousness isn’t a factor so you may’t discover it and so the notice goes away and the noticing goes away and I can’t inform if it’s occurring.
Michael: I’m confused. Consciousness goes away, so that you’re unconscious? When you’re not unconscious, then consciousness is there.
Questioner 8: However it’s not one thing I can level to too, and that may be related to the opposite factor about it not current in a spot. However when you discover there’s no place for it, then the noticing of it isn’t there both.
Michael: Once more, it’s vital to be clear. I didn’t say it doesn’t exist in a spot, I mentioned it’s not coming from one place
Questioner 8: Ah, okay. I’m questioning if my challenge is…
Michael: It isn’t coming from anyplace however it may be positioned in all places–there’s a distinction between the place it’s coming from and the place it seems. So that you’re getting at one thing actually vital, nevertheless it’s not a conundrum. Simply enable the wakefulness to be awake. I saved saying relaxation as conscious vast openness. I didn’t say discover awakeness. I may say that–attempt it proper now. Discover awakeness.
Questioner 8: Yeah, it’s sort of the whole lot.
Michael: There it’s. It’s not laborious to do.
Questioner 8: Yeah, proper, cool, thanks.
Questioner 9: I suppose I want some steering as a result of I’ve been right here seven or eight occasions, and I’d say greater than half I simply discover totally different sensations. So the primary time it occurred I believe my cheek was itchy and I used to be questioning ought to I scratch it or ought to I simply let or not it’s. So I used to be working towards letting or not it’s after which I observed my ankle would itch after which some place else and some place else. As I sat with it, it felt like my pores and skin was dissolving, yeah, and good, I like the feeling. After which one other time, sitting right here I’m conscious of the scale of my physique and the scale of this room after which it felt like I used to be an oracle enviornment or Chase Heart. It simply felt so expansive. Then one other time it felt…
Michael: Okay, so what’s the query?
Questioner 9: I’m asking for some steering. I simply maintain watching these items. Is that this useful?
Michael: Yeah, you’re beginning to discover the vast openness. The pores and skin dissolves, that’s the
sense of the pores and skin sensation being a boundary away. The sense of the room as a boundary goes away. That’s the boundlessness that’s already there. Your thoughts places up this concept that my pores and skin is a boundary, the partitions are a boundary, however as you’re sitting there, it’s not a boundary. In order you’re watching these dissolve or drop, that’s simply enjoyable these psychological containers. You’re not making consciousness greater, you’re simply stopping pretending it’s small.
Questioner 9: Thanks.
Michael: That’s good. Final query, right here you’ve been elevating your hand for like a half hour.
Questioner 10: Michael, I simply wished to say I hate you, so, no I’m simply completely kidding. Thanks for the primary time I’m right here. That is fantastic. I’ve been watching on-line for a very long time. It’s stunning to be on this house. I’ve a query. On the finish of this, my expertise tonight was actually, actually tough. A whole lot of simply attempting to let go, let go, I have to let go, till it simply wasn’t. And what occurred was the whole lot simply turned actually playful virtually, and sort of emergent, is what it felt like. As a substitute of a thought coming and being strung alongside like one thing not right here however sooner or later or the previous or one thing. My query is, it it felt nice, however am I tricking myself into having fun with the in any other case nonetheless painful again, you already know, want to simply let go of all these items?
Michael: Effectively I don’t know, are you tricking your self?
Questioner 10: I like being playful.
Michael: Possibly the playfulness could be very enticing, however are you doing it?
Questioner 10: It didn’t really feel that approach, no.
Michael: Then you definately’re in all probability not tricking your self. It’s simply once you cease combating so laborious–I imply–take into consideration a bit of child, proper, they haven’t realized that the whole lot’s an issue, and I’ve to work work work work work–they’re simply sort of enjoying on a regular basis. And, more often than not, until they like are hungry or hit their head or no matter, they’re in an awesome temper, as a result of the whole lot’s simply sort of–wow!–and it’s solely when, oh I acquired, I acquired, I acquired, that the whole lot begins sucking. So that you dropped it, and it was like, oh, this feels sort of nice. So it doesn’t sound such as you’re tricking your self.
Questioner 10: Okay, I used to be simply questioning if that’s one thing I ought to lean into or if that’s one other like you already know phantasm?
Michael: That entire concept that, I acquired to lean into it–now you’re gonna make it a brand new factor to do, proper? So, simply now you’re making it a job, let go of that, come again to, oh yeah, it’s similar to this after I’m not attempting so laborious all proper.
Excellent. Let’s finish issues there.
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