Nondual Meditation with Michael Taft
Meditation
Wow, acquired lots of people right here tonight. That’s nice. So let’s start just by checking in, not meditating, not doing something particular, simply tuning in to the way it feels to be you proper now, the ideas which might be current, the feelings which might be current, physique sensations which might be current and easily permitting what’s ever there to be there. So we’re actually comprehensively simply noticing what it’s prefer to be ourselves proper now and accepting that fully. No matter it looks like is ok, irrespective of how terrible or let’s say explodingly too energetic, or one thing, no matter it’s, it’s all advantageous. However simply discover it. Be with what’s truly happening.
And now, I would like you to seek out that the majority brokenhearted place inside your self, the saddest spot, and simply really feel that only for a second, the actually unhappy place, and simply let that be current with out making an attempt to alter it or management it or deny it. Discover that that’s there and that’s okay, and simply let which have its room, have its place.
Now, I’d such as you to start doing a little deeper respiration, I’m gonna do some stomach respiration or no matter deep respiration works for you however the thought is solely that you just do
a big in-breath after which a very lengthy exhale. So the exhale is for much longer than the inhale. That’s the necessary half but it surely helps if it’s a pleasant stomach inhale to start with. Make it give you the results you want, don’t battle, don’t make the out breath so lengthy that it’s tough or uncomfortable, however we need to have a pleasant deep in-breath after which a very, actually lengthy out-breath. And so let’s be with simply that for some time collectively.
If you wish to, if it lets you keep targeted, make sure that, in fact, that you just’re feeling the physique sensations of that in-breath very clearly and feeling the physique sensations of that out-breath very clearly. How’s that really feel in your stomach? How does that really feel in your rib cage? How does that really feel in your perineum? How’s that really feel in all places? And noticing all of the sensations in-breath and out-breath. And if you wish to you may label inhaling, ‘inhaling,’ for the in-breath, and respiration out, ‘respiration out,’ for the out-breath. So let’s simply be with that collectively for some time right here.
Really feel how good it feels to breathe. Physique actually likes to breathe. It’s going to assist should you really feel the start of every in-breath. Be sure you discover that second of the start of the in-breath and be sure you discover the second of the tip of the out-breath. They’re proper subsequent to one another however they’re completely different. Simply sink much more deeply into that breath.
It would really feel pretty. It would truly really feel type of painful. It would really feel lots of other ways however simply let it really feel that method. Nevertheless the breath feels is the correct method for it to really feel proper now. Actually sink into that.
Good, now discover what’s noticing the breath, discover the noticing, discover this–the attention that’s current. and simply discover that that consciousness that’s current that’s conscious of the respiration may be very open, it’s very spacious, it’s boundaryless, it’s extensive, it’s free. And I would like you to primarily simply relaxation being that consciousness whereas permitting the breath sensation to easily come up and go within the consciousness. So as a substitute of type of specializing in the breath, or specializing in the physique, we’re doing one thing completely different now, we’re merely resting as open consciousness inside which the wave of the breath rises and falls and consciousness notices that wave of the rising and falling breath with none effort, with none problem, it’s simply already conscious. So we’re nonetheless in a method meditating on the breath however within the lightest doable method, primarily like 98% simply resting as consciousness with the breath merely rising and falling in consciousness. Let’s do this collectively now.
Should you like meditating along with your eyes open, that’s type of the normal strategy to work it with this half, attempt to stay completely nonetheless, don’t transfer, don’t scratch, don’t shift, stay nonetheless. Discover that this spacious consciousness is already conscious. It requires no work to be awake. It’s already conscious of the sensation of the breath. So we’re simply resting in awakeness, feeling the breath, remaining uninvolved with considering however not combating the considering, simply being the open consciousness noticing the breath. Consciousness is awake. Keep awake. Should you’re having hassle staying awake, sit up, open your eyes. However, in fact, consciousness is awake it doesn’t matter what. It’s simply the thoughts that’s sleepy.
We’re resting outdoors the thoughts, merely consciousness itself feeling the breath, resting in wakefulness, feeling the breath. In a method we will discover how spectacularly strange this feels, not a particular state, not altered, merely resting as the attention that’s all the time current. It’s straightforward to enter an altered state, we do it on a regular basis however that normally serves as some type of leisure or distraction from this that’s right here on a regular basis, however wow have a look at this factor that’s right here on a regular basis. Let it see itself, consciousness seeing consciousness, consciousness exhibiting itself to itself. Discover that it has no boundary, it’s completely huge, unconstrained, not cramped, open, free, as extensive because the sky with none effort. Discover that now. Relaxation in that vastness effortlessly now.
If it feels prefer it’s closing in or turning into cramped or tightening down simply chill out, discover it effortlessly comes again to openness, it’s all the time open. That is the pure state of consciousness and look, look proper now, not solely is it boundless–how lengthy has consciousness been right here? How lengthy has it been conscious? This eternal consciousness has been right here since beginningless time. It has no starting, it’s unbounded in house and unbounded in time. Look in your personal expertise, when did it begin? When did consciousness begin? Not in your reminiscence, not in concepts, not in ideas, however proper now. Look! When did consciousness begin?
It has all the time been conscious. That is the pure state of consciousness, boundless and timeless, however look much more carefully, now, proper now, look in your personal expertise. Consciousness has no harm, consciousness has no trauma, consciousness has no scars, it’s completely excellent and pristine at each second. Our ideas and feelings and our bodies and spirits can have problem and harm and scars however consciousness itself by no means does. Completely pristine, all the time excellent, all the time completely healed in each second, and completely indestructible.
Look now. Discover your personal fully pristine, excellent, clear, undamaged, unsullied consciousness. Stay completely nonetheless, nonetheless means nonetheless, on this pure state, completely unaltered, completely regular state of consciousness. Discover the boundlessness, the timelessness, the perfection, the pristine high quality of consciousness. However look, proper now, in your personal expertise and see additionally the loving high quality of this consciousness which comes from its openness, rejects nothing, it accepts and welcomes all the pieces (partially as a result of it can’t be ever harmed in any method.) It’s completely welcoming, completely accepting, completely loving. Discover that now.
Its extensive open arms settle for each thought, each emotion. Every thing that comes into consciousness is conscious, is seen, is seen. It’s deeply loving, that is the pure state of consciousness completely open, completely loving and accepting, rejecting nothing, greeting all the pieces. This consciousness is completely actual and but look, proper now, in your personal expertise. It’s not a factor. You can not make a factor out of it. It’s not an object in consciousness. Noticing doesn’t make an object out of noticing, it’s what’s noticing. It’s not a factor, this consciousness which is completely actual and but not a factor.
Discover now the place it comes from. The place is that this consciousness coming from? What’s the floor from which it springs? Look carefully, you’ll discover there isn’t a floor. You might need concepts about the place consciousness arises from however these are simply ideas. Should you look rigorously in your personal expertise, proper now, you’ll see clearly it has no floor, it has no supply, it’s not itself resting on something, it’s groundless. Look now at this endless, timeless, excellent, huge, loving, groundless consciousness and see now that it’s what’s trying.
Excellent. Now let’s let go of the meditation.
Dharma Discuss, Q&A
Discover that we’re not breaking away from some particular state, the attention continues to be there. The attention itself hasn’t modified. It’s completely simply the best way it’s been and the factor that may get in the best way with the best way we’re working on this meditation is that if we begin to consider it, for instance, if I say one thing like, ‘consciousness is boundless or consciousness is huge,’ we will begin to just do actually type of two issues, we will both give it some thought or we will begin making an attempt to do one thing. So lots of people try and make their consciousness huge someway, like pushing or type of increasing or no matter, identical to feeling like they’re trying in numerous instructions and stuff like that. However that’s fully pointless. Consciousness is already huge, it’s already extensive and should you’re not noticing that, it’s simply since you’re paying consideration proper now in a slender method, however should you chill out it simply comes again to openness.
Or, if we’re serious about it, we will say one thing like, effectively, let’s see, your eyes are open, sometimes we might do a meditation like this with our eyes open, you don’t need to however that’s type of conventional, you understand, say one thing like, ‘it’s boundless,’ and also you’ll suppose, ‘however I see a room round me so it’s bounded by a room,’ or ‘there’s a flooring.’ That’s an apparent boundary however we’re speaking about expertise right here and so what’s actually there’s a picture of a ceiling arising within the thoughts or a picture of a flooring and that’s not a boundary in any respect. By way of my sitting right here expertise, proper now, it’s just a few picture arising, proper? Similar factor once I say, ‘it’s timeless,’ we will have concepts of, ‘oh, it began as a result of my mind assembled in my mom’s womb,’ or no matter, cells got here collectively after which sooner or later there was a–then a miracle occurs and there was you understand this these knock-on results and someway consciousness occurred however that’s an thought, proper? That’s a narrative, we’re telling ourselves about what occurred. And I’m not commenting about whether or not that occurred, or not. That’s not what we’re doing right here.
Slightly, we’re trying in our expertise, proper now, about what–to place it in a humorous method–how lengthy does it really feel prefer it’s been there? Or appear to be it’s been there? And should you look, it feels prefer it’s been there both ceaselessly or that the query is mindless. These are type of the 2 solutions. They’re the identical reply, in a method, if you wish to name them a solution. It’s like a divide-by-zero error or one thing, it simply doesn’t make sense to even ask that. It’s simply both all the time been there or it’s timeless in your direct expertise not concepts about it, not in making an attempt to speak about, you understand, the science of growth or one thing, we’re simply trying instantly into expertise, the identical factor with the indestructibility of it, or the truth that it can’t be damage, it can’t be broken, that’s simply instantly noticeable. And naturally, human beings can have lots of damage, lots of wounding, lots of scars, lots of psychological points, trauma, and many others., however that’s not within the consciousness. In order that’s not touching the attention. The attention is noticing that. The attention itself is all the time pristine. It’s by no means damage in any method.
Don’t imagine me, have a look at the attention itself and see that it’s boundless, discover that it’s timeless, discover that it can’t be damage, it’s indestructible. It’s one of many–if we acquired into some conventional language, we might say, it’s one among its vajra qualities, it’s indestructible. That’s what vajra means, can’t be harmed. And identical with loving, I’d say it’s loving.
Typically you get lots of pushback; however isn’t it impartial? How can it have a high quality? An emotional high quality? and many others. However I’m not speaking concerning the emotional high quality, though that’s associated to it, I’m speaking about its very openness, the truth that as a result of it could’t be damage, it’s not making an attempt to push something away. The truth that consciousness simply is conscious of all the pieces that arises. It doesn’t simply filter out the stuff it doesn’t like and solely lets within the stuff it likes, it’s all the best way open, all the best way welcoming, all the best way accepting, on a regular basis. The ideas and emotions won’t be. I’d actually be having some ideas and emotions about stuff however consciousness itself? Broad open, fully accepting, no judgment, completely loving.
And simply look, once more, don’t imagine me, look in your personal expertise, you’ll see it’s like that. Then the truly actually bizarre stuff comes subsequent like the truth that it’s not a factor. As quickly as I begin speaking about consciousness, you attempt to begin discovering a factor known as consciousness, and we’re saying phrases about it, we’re making an attempt to level consideration on the factor known as consciousness. However, in fact, it’s the place the ideas are arising, it’s what’s trying. You’ll be able to by no means make a factor out of it. Nothing is a factor however we will nonetheless make issues out of them, proper? Actually they’re by no means a factor however we will do this with our thoughts. However you may’t make consciousness right into a factor, it’s outdoors of that, it’s by no means, ever, ever an object. Objects, if there are any, they come up inside it and go away from it. However, in fact, they’re all product of consciousness too. So actually nothing is a factor.
After which the very, very–possibly most difficult, most terrifying, most upsetting, however most deeply satisfying factor about consciousness is; there’s no floor. There’s no place to seek out the supply of it. You’ll be able to’t get to the tip of it. You’ll be able to’t resolve it. It’s not going to assist you to curl up and relaxation in your little cat mattress, you understand, curled in a circle, loud night breathing, your toe beans hanging out like you might have 15 legs. It doesn’t do this. It’s, in a method, all the time falling via house. It’s simply completely groundless. And that quantity of freedom is frightening, at first, to the considering, feeling thoughts.
However finally, that quantity of freedom turns into the final word refuge, proper? The truth that it’s groundless, in that method, is what’s so great about it. It’s not dependent.
When, you understand–if we discuss in conventional languages about this high quality, they often in English or western languages will use a phrase which means enlightenment however that’s not the phrase, that’s not the correct translation. The interpretation into English is freedom or liberation, and that’s the liberty we’re speaking about, that groundlessness, absolute timeless not thingness of completely pure, crisp, extensive open, loving, accepting consciousness.
Proper? That’s freedom and no matter ideas are arising, consciousness is ok, no matter emotions are arising, consciousness is ok. It’s not ignoring them as a result of it’s conscious, proper? However neither is it accepting and rejecting them or, lets say, they’re all accepted. It’s not grabbing onto or rejecting them. And once more, don’t imagine me, it’s not like a perception system. Simply look. I’m simply stating what’s there so that you can discover about your personal consciousness and as a substitute it’s–we’re not doing it via concepts, I’ve to speak in concepts to type of level to it however should you strive to do that with concepts you’re in doing the unsuitable factor, you’re like going about it incorrectly. It’s relatively, simply have a look at the attention itself with the attention itself. It’s direct, okay?
In order that’s what we’re as much as and that’s the, you understand, freedom that’s accessible. Discover it’s not some type of particular state. We will do meditations and get in very altered states, that’s advantageous however altered states come and go. This doesn’t come and go.
So questions, feedback, stories?
Questioner 1: So probably an odd report, however I seen that I used to be like referring to you
as like an offended determine who’s gonna hit me if I transfer. Is that like–I had lots of anger in the direction of you about it.
Michael: Superior. So discover that consciousness is ok with that, proper? You’re projecting anger onto me, you’re feeling anger again. Clearly, I’m not offended at anybody for transferring. We agreed to all keep nonetheless earlier than we began but it surely’s not like I’m gonna come and hit you. On the identical time, we’re not in right here to have some good feelings and never different feelings, so if anger’s arising that’s attention-grabbing, okay? That’s what’s taking place now. However in fact, I’ll by no means hit you.
Questioner 1: I really feel like I truly did want that in order that was useful.
Michael: I’d simply come over there and actually yell at you. Perhaps I’m taking that again.
Thanks on your report. I believe it’s attention-grabbing to note that.
Questioner 2: That is my first time in your class. I’ve by no means tried this method to meditation earlier than, so while you instructed us simply to relaxation I used to be like, oh, what do I do? I don’t know what I’m doing. Perhaps I’m simply bored.
Michael: So the reply is; simply relaxation, don’t do something, and should you’re bored then be bored. Okay? And there’s one thing that’s noticing the boredom, that’s what we’re actually right here for, okay? It’s not about, oh I have to be in a state of doing one thing, as a result of we’re noticing the factor that wishes to do. It’s not that, oh I would like to interact my considering in order that I don’t have this emotion of boredom. It’s; discover that boredom is arising in consciousness, okay? Is that so dangerous? Be bored. However it’s; how are you aware you’re bored?
How are you aware you’re bored?
Questioner 2: I don’t know.
Michael: You don’t know. If you understand it, okay. Nicely, discover out, proper? Discover out whether or not you’re bored or not, and if you’re, how are you aware? Proper? Simply look. Once more, meditation just isn’t leisure—so we’re not making an attempt to not be bored. In reality, if we’re tremendous bored, that is perhaps actually, actually attention-grabbing. Okay, we’ll simply sit with that and see that urge that wishes to fill the thoughts with new materials, what’s that protecting up? If we’re bored for various minutes what would possibly come up that we’ve been avoiding?
How are you aware something? I’m asking you, how are you aware something? Consider the phrase I’ve used about 600 occasions on this meditation, possibly 700, since you’re conscious of it, proper? The attention is central. So boredom is a state on the market that consciousness is noticing, that’s attention-grabbing, okay? Whereas, if we tackle the ‘I’m the boredom’ that’s type of a misapprehension.
What else? Sure.
Questioner 2: Hey Michael, in my meditation follow however in my life, as effectively, I’ve
come throughout a typical theme of asking myself a query; when is motion acceptable and when is inaction acceptable? So for instance, in some meditation methods, they have you ever creating an intense concentrate on the breath and in different meditation methods, they really feel extra like this one, the place it’s type of identical to, settle into what’s all the time been there. What are sources I assume you advocate on like not simply in meditation however deciding, typically like, when it’s advantageous when all the pieces is ok, there’s nothing to do, nowhere to go, and many others., and when, you understand, to hop on the proverbial like hamster wheel, I assume.
Michael: Let’s all be hamsters, collectively. Hamsters are cute. I like hamsters. I’ve a pleasant wheel, good secure wheel. Do you ever do any sports activities?
Questioner 2: Sure, Tae Kwon-do.
Michael: Okay, so you understand how in Tae Kwon-do you are able to do a roundhouse kick or you could possibly do a sidekick, proper? Which one must you do?
Questioner 2: It depends upon the context.
Michael: Yeah, or, you understand, which one do you need to do? It’s not that one is true and the opposite one’s unsuitable. They’re simply various things you are able to do. So in all places everyone seems to be claiming that they’ve the one proper meditation approach that everybody ought to do and I’m like, you understand, that’s like saying my work all have the one true shade I take advantage of this excellent orange and the entire colours are banned from portray. Slightly, you understand, every approach or every even non-technique is suitable for what it’s acceptable for, okay? And so possibly that’s a non-answer by way of which one to do but it surely’s method it and begin to work with which of them appear to be intuitively in tune with you, that they really feel extra acceptable, they really feel like, oh once I do this type of meditation I really feel somewhat extra at house, and many others., and many others., and that’s a great way to start.
After which over time, you begin to get challenged with those that really feel rather less at house however are value doing, and so forth, and little by little you broaden your palette from simply this excellent orange. You get another colours in there and also you begin to have the ability to experiment. And so it’s on you, you understand? And it’s when academics begin telling you that they know what it is best to do this I might look out. Okay? Slightly, it’s like hey, right here’s entry to instruments, right here’s some stuff you should use, right here’s cool methods to make use of them, right here’s the best way I take advantage of them, and so forth, however nonetheless it’s your work with your self. Thanks.
Questioner 3: Sure, so in my meditation right this moment once I seen that consciousness, I…
Michael: Who seen it? Or what seen it?
Questioner 3: I positively felt prefer it was nonetheless me. There was nonetheless a way of separation however like an appreciation for it and it felt like coronary heart opening and softening after which all these solutions got here in. It was like a really fruitful consciousness. After which I used to be experiencing lots of bodily discomfort and I attempted to only pay attention to that bodily discomfort.
Michael: That’s what we do.
Questioner 3: And I may do it however then I felt like I used to be free falling.
Yeah, it was somewhat bit terrifying
Michael: Yeah! You’re doing it! That’s it! Keep in mind I stated it’s groundless, you’re falling, it’s terrifying, I used all of these phrases.
Questioner 3: yeah, it was terrifying after which after that, I began meditating with my eyes open, it was simpler to deal with someway.
Michael: Yeah, normally that’s what I say, on this model, generally it’s simpler to have our eyes open. However discover irrespective of how a lot you free fell via house or felt scared nothing dangerous truly occurred. You’re advantageous, proper?
And so, that is simply the fear of a hen that’s been inside a tiny cage for like its entire life and it comes out of the cage and it’s like, Aaaaahhhh, there’s no cage! for only a minute, after which it’s like, Oh! Proper? You’ve heard me earlier than, I talked concerning the animal movies on Youtube, the place the–like for instance cows which were caught in a dairy barn their entire life are instantly set free, they usually’re all at first type of, what’s that horrible blue factor up there? It’s so gigantic and eventually, they’re like, Oh! They begin leaping round and, you understand, you ever see cows bounce? Or gamboling, proper? They’re simply operating round and that’s the transfer.
So at first, it’s scary and it could really feel like I stated, it’s groundless. You’ll really feel such as you’re falling since you’re used to imagining a floor however the consciousness is free! So what you’re feeling is free. And at first it’s simply scary however discover nothing dangerous occurs, so after a short while, you’re not scared anymore, and also you begin–the liberty a part of it turns into the actually salient half, but additionally it’s loving, proper? It’s actually tremendous secure. So yeah, so you probably did it! You’re getting there, proper? You seen it.
Questioner 3: Yeah, I imply being freed from that cage that’s completely useful.
Michael: Yeah, proper. So gambol while you get outdoors. Do some gamboling. Different stories or questions?
All proper. Thanks for placing up with my completely irrational and super-intense want for you all to be nonetheless, and I hope to see you all subsequent week once we may be nonetheless collectively once more.
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