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, elevate your hand. Okay, you’ve sat on this room earlier than plenty of occasions. For these of you who haven’t been on this room earlier than, we’re going to take a seat for an hour, silently and with motionlessness. So I’m going to take a seat nonetheless for an hour. I’ll lead a guided meditation. In order for you, you’ll be able to observe the guided meditation. For those who don’t need to, don’t observe it. If I begin doing one thing that’s simply in opposition to your faith or makes you faint or no matter, simply don’t do it. You’re welcome to not do it. Aside from that, on the finish of the sit, I’ll speak for some time. Then we’ll have some Q&A, when you’ve got stuff you need to report–hey you recognize my head blew off, or I hated that, or no matter, you’re welcome to share, we’ll convey a microphone round after which we’ll additionally do Q&A.
First, earlier than we even examine in with ourselves let’s simply transfer only a tiny tiny bit. So the very first thing I need you to do is do wrist rotations. You don’t must do it like I’m doing it however you recognize that is the thought circles together with your wrists–any sample you need–after which circles together with your elbows. Fluid, not like a robotic, get some fluidity in there. After which circles together with your shoulders and spot you are able to do shoulders and elbows and wrists abruptly. Numerous completely different circles inside circles however the level is to get actual free. Then you’ll be able to transfer your backbone up and down like waves going up and down your backbone like that, but in addition twisties, okay, so good fluid sort stuff simply really feel that fluidity coming in there. Your complete physique is mainly water with slightly little bit of magic powder in it so simply tune into the water half. If you wish to you’ll be able to even do form of like hula hoop sort stuff and simply really feel that fluidity coming in. Then steadily, steadily, get smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller whereas nonetheless really shifting tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny circles nonetheless feeling that
till you’ll be able to’t inform whether or not it’s doing a circle or not simply really feel as fastidiously, fastidiously, fastidiously noticing as you’ll be able to because it steadily 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 manage it, to make it into one thing higher, to remodel it, to see it in a fantastic 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 form 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 doable, 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 mainly get out of the best way. If the egoic sense of self says, how do I get out of the best way? That’s getting in the best way, so as a substitute simply tune in to the a part of expertise that’s already vast open, conscious. Each 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. For those who’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 at all times 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 educated 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 known as ego hunger since you’re not even giving the ego a meditation observe to do. It has no objective on this approach of sitting, and so the extra you’re employed on this approach, the extra it simply form of settles down into the background, as only a perform moderately than one thing you’re being or a masks you’re coming from. So, if you end up making an attempt to determine how to do that appropriately, or in any respect, simply cease that. For those who’re scrambling round looking for one thing to concentrate on, simply cease that. If you end up getting pulled away into trains of thought again and again, that’s very regular. Simply every time you discover it, simply chill out. You don’t must cease the thought or slap your hand or no matter, you simply chill out 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 power it, or do one thing to make consciousness open. However that’s, after all, inconceivable. Consciousness is at all times vast open. There’s completely nothing you are able to do to make it extra open. So, in the event you’re spending time making an attempt to broaden 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 at all times utterly awake. However it may be the case that we get actual sleepy. One of the best factor to do about that’s to take a seat up actual straight–don’t slouch–maintain your head up straight, and sit together with your eyes open, if that helps. In any other case, on this approach of working, typically you may get form 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 when it comes to the embodied properties of wakefulness, whereas the awakeness of consciousness is at all times utterly awake.
This observe in a approach is totally trusting the at all times already conscious, vast open nature of expertise and that there’s nothing in any respect we do that may enhance that. However, we will 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 present vast awakeness which has at all times been there.
Anytime you discover your self all concerned in pondering, simply chill out. The pondering can occur–you’re not making an attempt to manage 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 timber or one thing. It may be there as a lot because it needs however you’re not significantly decoding it into that 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 chill out come again to vast open vast awakeness that’s not concerned with it.
For those who completely can’t do that and your thoughts is simply operating in a circle operating in a circle making an attempt to do it proper, do it proper, do it proper, if you wish to, you’ll be able to form of again up and simply use the breath as a meditation object. Give attention to that and calm down. In any other case, simply let it run in a circle. Don’t fear about it. Maintain 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 are unsuitable and also you need to repair them. You recognize, this feels bizarre and I ought to change it. Or that factor just isn’t 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 every part simply the best way it’s and letting go of that basic sense of aggression. That deep aggression in opposition to ourselves that every part’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 see that while you let go of that and simply sit as your personal already present vast open vast awakeness, that does already really feel simply high-quality. It doesn’t want to vary something. It has basic pleasure and compassion in direction of the self.
What if every part is already all proper simply the best way 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 every part only for a short time, and simply let vast open vast awakeness–which is your basic 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’ll be able to 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 basic nature is mainly sane and open and joyous and sort with out you doing something in any respect. The extra you chill out 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 plenty of ideas, however the vast awakeness simply doesn’t seize on in any respect. My good friend 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 by way of 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 training 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 at all times there, at all times out there, at all times our pure situation. Actually, you’ll be able to’t observe presence. You simply observe not distracting from presence. We let go of distracting from presence, after which we naturally chill out again into whole presence. It’s not a matter of focusing, or constricting our consideration, or narrowing and tightening. Slightly, it’s the other. We chill out 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 fashion meditation we will usually find yourself in a very altered state, and that may really feel good, and you may inform one thing’s occurring and so forth. However altered states come and go. This isn’t an altered state: that is simply your basic being. This by no means comes and goes. You’ll be able to distract your self from it, however it’s at all times there, behind every part.
So in a approach, if there’s any criticism about this, it’s like, that’s completely boring, that’s essentially 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, every part’s unsuitable, I’ve acquired to modify, every part’s unsuitable, I’ve acquired to do that, I’ve acquired to do this, I don’t really feel proper, I don’t really feel proper, I acquired to vary, change, change, change, change,” then you definately’re welcome to do this. Enter the world of the egoic self the place every part’s at all times unsuitable, and regardless of how a lot you alter, you’ll be able to’t change sufficient to ever really feel okay, as a result of its complete approach of being is to not really feel okay. Or you’ll be able to 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, however 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 chill out. Let go. Thought will toddle on and also you simply come again to being vast open vast awakeness. Nothing could possibly be extra grounding or regulating or harmonizing or soothing than simply merely resting as our personal already present 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 at all times 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 at all times there once we simply cease making an attempt 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 at all times proper there.
Superb. Be at liberty 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 individual that I consider as one of many actually, actually foremost academics within the US within the final many many years, Adyashanti, or Adya, retired final evening. He’s really fairly younger, too, however he gave his final speak final evening. 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 fashion–probably not, it’s nonetheless how I’d educate it. I keep in mind him coming ahead 25 years in the past, and actually speaking in a approach that was fairly completely different than the opposite folks I’d consider as Advaita academics on the time. These academics stored 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 have been stuffed with shit. I didn’t belief them. They gave the impression to be doing a language recreation, form of a thoughts fuck, whereas Adyashanti, who was saying one thing related, was not stuffed with shit. He was clearly coming from the house that he was speaking about. So I at all times actually appreciated that, even when I didn’t at all times observe what he was saying.
The factor that he was saying and the factor that I’m at all times saying too lately 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–this can be a traditional picture–a Golden Buddha statue that’s buried 100 toes underground, and many people assume, nicely, it may be there, however 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 best way. 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 perhaps it would 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 form 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.
But it surely’s not like that at al–not even slightly 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 methods to dig and what to get out of the best way and who is aware of methods to clear the stuff off? And who is aware of methods to polish it up after which, what does whoever that’s do to comprehend that Buddha? Who’s that that’s doing all that? We expect 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. The truth is, it’s the concept that there’s a separate particular person that should do all that stuff that’s the distraction I’m speaking about. That complete mannequin–I’m going to dig and I’m going to shine–that’s what’s in the best way.
Now, it may be the case that our behavior of being that doer is so robust, that distraction is so robust, that it might probably’t simply by itself, regardless of how a lot somebody says simply chill out and be the vast open vast awakeness that you simply already are, it simply can’t let go of the behavior. For some folks, 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 achieved. That’s exceedingly uncommon, however it occurs, as a result of that’s the reality, so each infrequently somebody’s recurring clenching into personhood, that form 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, nearly everybody, the behavior is slightly stronger. So we do practices, and the practices are geared toward recognizing that over, and over once more, geared toward recognizing that. But it surely could possibly be the case that we’re so caught up in making an attempt to remodel into the form of factor that may let go, that we simply work on that transformation without end, and by no means let go. So that you’ll discover some academics, some complete traditions which are all about “simply sit there,” like we simply did. That’s all you do without end. 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 perhaps it’s like folks aren’t prepared for that and it by no means occurs.
So, we will discover one thing within the center. You are available in right here many weeks and we’ll do some visualization, we’ll do some Brahma Viharas, we’ll do some pranayama. However we’re at all times 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 form of massaging the stiffness out of the system in order that it might probably simply chill out. So if we’re doing work it’s simply form of like oiling up these muscle groups slightly bit in order that they will simply do what they already know methods to do. So there will be some studying concerned, some work concerned, and so forth.
I feel 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 would by no means occur, except simply by chance, as a result of it’s at all times there for everybody it doesn’t matter what. So it would occur anyway, however you’ll be able to’t manufacture it regardless of how laborious you attempt. For those who’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 change into central.
So the work we’re doing is supposedly in 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’re, 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 automobile alarm while 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 at all times conscious even while you’re lifeless asleep. There’s part of you that’s conscious at all times at all times at all times it’s at all times on. I’m simply asking you to note that and relaxation as that. It’s even there while 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 infrequently 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 form of occurs. It’s at all times there.
Good, so when you’ve got questions or feedback or critiques, otherwise you need to inform me how a lot you hate me or no matter, elevate your hand and we’ll convey you a microphone. Simply keep in mind that is going out stay to the interwebs, so it’s not precisely personal.
Questioner 1: You talked about one thing about lucid dreaming, which may be very attention-grabbing, however you additionally talked about lucid sleep. May you speak slightly bit about that?
Michael: Yeah, we will change into awake throughout a dream, however the dream continues, so we have now lucidity in a dream. The identical factor can occur in deep dreamless sleep, the place we change into lucid in deep dreamless sleep however the deep dreamless sleep continues. That’s all. And, in truth, it’s the identical lucidity that I’m asking you to have whilst you’re awake strolling round. Simply change into awake in precisely that very same strategy to this, which is a special form of dream. It’s all the identical lucidity. So we study various things from changing into lucid in every of these locations. The way in which I’m instructing this can be a completely different avenue of lucidity with completely 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 recognize, you go right into a dream, after which change into lucid inside it. Sometimes your objective is to meet your fantasies or no matter. Whereas once we do it from a meditative perspective, we sometimes do it the opposite approach, going from wakefulness into lucid dreaming or wakefulness into lucid sleep. However it might probably simply by chance occur the opposite approach and the objective, as a substitute of fulfilling your fantasies, is to have the ability to meditate there as nicely. Discover the standing of the dreaming world whilst 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 variety: 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 best way 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 achieved loads 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 few yr each single week, typically 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 assume it’s like a query remark blended. It’s this factor I’ve been combating 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 form 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 tune ought to I play? Play a tune that you simply really feel like taking part in, 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 vitality, 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 at all times saying, that’s solely midway there as a result of you’ll be able to simply relaxation as stillness–cool! However the extra you try this, the extra vitality retains coming as much as do shit. However it might probably go awry if it then will get caught within the equipment of the ego, and then you definately go do the ego stuff. That’s what we’ve been doing our complete lives. As a substitute, if that equipment doesn’t get engaged, you simply begin doing stuff. It’s the identical recreation: don’t interact the equipment.
Questioner 2: I feel 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 essentially the most woo doable language, the vitality simply needs to do stuff. And also you go along with it, and there’s an inner letting go, however you go along with it, okay, and it’ll really feel very alive and really empty on the identical 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 whilst you have loads of alive vitality, and no person’s doing it.
Questioner 2: That resonates, however 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 slightly bit tough this time round was my leg acquired fairly painful about two-thirds of the best way in. Normally, after I do a extra vipassana sort observe, it’s like, concentrate on it, and that does assist with the ache a bit. On this case there’s simply loads of “don’t do something about it,” and it made it trickier to expertise any stage of reduction. So, I’m questioning when you’ve got something to supply about that.
Michael: Yeah, so we do know that in the event you do actual centered vipassana on it there will be large quantity of reduction in that, proper? So, that may be an amazing 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, not less than in my subjective expertise, it turns the feeling into one thing that’s slightly bit I don’t know–fluffy. It simply form 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 supplying you with loads 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 movement 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 in as vipassana: as you make it into an object after which slowly by concentrating on it lots, you come to see a few of its non-object-ness. Whereas, once we do it this manner, you simply don’t flip it into an object within the first place, proper? It’s only a movement 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 feel it would simply be that I’m used to doing it a technique so form of doing the other observe regardless that 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 feel mine is extra of a report additionally. I really feel the 90s meditations are coming again into vogue lately. It’s form 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 feel we talked about it in one other group however I’m making an attempt 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 every part is okay, you already are that Golden Buddha. However, to me, what I notice sitting right here, but in addition beforehand, how belief can be a key to extra dualistic practices. How, while you’re digging by way of the roots and lifeless our bodies it’s not essentially about purification or making an attempt to see one thing, like how fucked up you’re, or your loved ones is. It’s extra about form of artificially creating adversity so you would belief in your self and observe within the potentialities. There are such a lot of sayings about lovers break up simply to make up. It’s nearly like you must create that initiation for your self, that hardship, so you would bond even additional with the potential of deepening. Even while you acquired there you may nonetheless really feel form of agitated.
Like what’s subsequent? Is there extra? How lengthy can I keep there? It looks like while you’re utilizing this adversity as a chance to see how one can undergo that perhaps nonetheless struggling and nonetheless not feeling such as you’re getting it. However on the identical time cultivating that deeper belief in a chance and to me that became a special orientation in comparison with the Christian or Judaic idea of needing to purify or I must do XYZ. Or perhaps 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 would see the wholeness.
Michael: You recognize there’s a very attention-grabbing approach of understanding meditation. For most individuals, we consider meditation as a selected method. Or a selected, perhaps a number of, explicit strategies or complete traditions of many strategies. I do know you recognize this, however we will do the identical method with completely different views. So really the outline of what you do may be equivalent however the place you’re coming from may be very completely different, and it results in a special consequence, as a result of you’ve a special view regardless that you’re doing precisely the identical factor method, proper? You with me up to now?
So what you’re doing proper now, with what you simply mentioned, is you’re bringing a nondual view again to dualistic strategies. That’s the way you’re presupposed to do it; that’s precisely proper, we take the nondual view. Let me begin over once more and say we will say, oh, these strategies are dualistic and these are nondualistic strategies, and to a sure extent that’s true. But it surely’s additionally unsuitable, as a result of even all of the dualistic strategies we will convey nondual view to these and do them precisely as they’re described however from a very completely 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 while you’re speaking about it, in order that view just isn’t typical, that’s not like how these are taught from inside their very own traditions often. But when we convey 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 assume 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 noticed meditation has nothing to do with awakening or something. To me, it’s like meditation is form of ineffective however it’s only a device 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 strategies, twin or nondual.
Michael: Yeah, attention-grabbing. So one of many predominant issues we’re making an attempt 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’m wondering as you recognize your psychology transforms, in the event you may begin not noticing your meditation is actually altering additionally proper again into one thing fairly completely different. Let’s maintain going.
Questioner 5: Hello, whereas we’re doing vipassana evaluating and contrasting with this observe, I discover lots 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 feel spontaneity is strictly the appropriate description. What you’re calling intention we might simply translate as making an attempt 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 shiny 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 shiny, and never vast, and never open. So, each time I used to be looking for white and/or vast and shiny and open, it felt away from no matter was noticing. It felt out into different points 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 together with your expertise, at all times, okay. I’ll say that in the event you maintain tuning into the factor that’s noticing, it received’t be positioned wherever 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 predict the noticer is positioned able however the extra you examine that the extra you discover that it’s not positioned wherever. However discover out for your self. I simply suspect that that’s what you’ll discover finally.
Questioner 7: Hello Michael. One factor I seen is that there’s an emphasis on stillness
Michael: Did I ever use the phrase Stillness?
Questioner 7: I feel you urged not shifting, and my query is, can’t we transfer however simply be vast open and conscious as we do it?
Michael: You possibly can, 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 chill out. 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 recognize, you simply can’t cease shifting actually.
So certain, it could 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 plenty of folks can’t sit nonetheless as a result of they’re so hooked into the neurosis, which is okay, that’s the place we begin. But it surely’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 unexpectedly, 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 slightly bit of really 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 assume I mentioned that tonight. However, perhaps I did.
Questioner 8: That’s the place I went with it. Once I begin a meditation like that I’ll be like, okay, consciousness is that this factor I must not create however let or not it’s and I get you recognize on the backside of the hill or no matter there it looks like consciousness isn’t a factor so you’ll be able to’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? For those who’re not unconscious, then consciousness is there.
Questioner 8: But it surely’s not one thing I can level to too, and that may be related to the opposite factor about it not present 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 problem is…
Michael: It’s not coming from wherever however it may be positioned all over the place–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, however it’s not a conundrum. Simply enable the wakefulness to be awake. I stored saying relaxation as conscious vast openness. I didn’t say discover awakeness. I might say that–attempt it proper now. Discover awakeness.
Questioner 8: Yeah, it’s form of every part.
Michael: There it’s. It’s not laborious to do.
Questioner 8: Yeah, proper, cool, thanks.
Questioner 9: I assume 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 completely different sensations. So the primary time it occurred I feel 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 training letting or not it’s after which I seen 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 area 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 this stuff. Is that this helpful?
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 stress-free these psychological packing 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 great. 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. Loads of simply making an attempt to let go, let go, I must let go, till it simply wasn’t. And what occurred was every part simply turned actually playful nearly, and form 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 recognize, 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 may 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 while you cease combating so laborious–I imply–take into consideration slightly child, proper, they haven’t discovered that every part’s an issue, and I’ve to work work work work work–they’re simply form of taking part in on a regular basis. And, more often than not, except they like are hungry or hit their head or no matter, they’re in an amazing temper, as a result of every part’s simply form of–wow!–and it’s solely when, oh I acquired, I acquired, I acquired, that every part begins sucking. So that you dropped it, and it was like, oh, this feels form 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 recognize phantasm?
Michael: That complete 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 making an attempt so laborious all proper.
Superb. Let’s finish issues there.
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