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 a lot of instances. 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. If you’d like, you may comply with the guided meditation. In case you don’t need to, don’t comply with 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 discuss for some time. Then we’ll have some Q&A, when you have stuff you need to report–hey you already know my head blew off, or I hated that, or no matter, you’re welcome to share, we’ll deliver 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 should do it like I’m doing it however you already know 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 see you are able to do shoulders and elbows and wrists all of sudden. A number of totally different circles inside circles however the level is to get actual free. 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 sort stuff simply really feel that fluidity coming in there. Your complete physique is mainly water with a bit 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 sort 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 shifting 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 rigorously, rigorously, rigorously noticing as you may because it step by step involves a relaxation. Good.
Meditation
Now, ask your self the query, what’s it prefer 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 total climate system of expertise and see 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 rework it, to see it in a ravishing means 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 alter it for now.
Okay, tonight we’re going to remain actual easy. I simply need you to note the side of expertise that’s huge open and awake, and simply as a lot as potential, come from that place. Discover I’m not saying make some a part of expertise huge open and awake. I’m saying discover the half that’s already huge open and awake. 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 huge open, awake. Each time the thoughts grabs onto the rest, as quickly as you discover it’s grabbed onto something simply let go of that. Drop it. Come again to huge open huge awakeness.
Discover that there’s no meditation object. In case you’re used to having one thing to give attention to 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 give attention to. As an alternative, we’re simply coming again to huge open huge awakeness that’s all the time been there. If you end up following a prepare of thought, simply let go, come again to huge open huge awakeness. If you end up doing a bunch of physique stretching that’s not what we’re doing. We’re sitting as huge open huge awakeness, letting the physique be okay simply as it’s.
If you end up meditating in your respiratory 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 an alternative we’re simply resting as huge 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 means of sitting, and so the extra you’re employed on this means, the extra it simply form of settles down into the background, as only a perform fairly 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. In case you’re scrambling round looking for one thing to give attention to, 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 should cease the thought or slap your hand or no matter, you simply loosen up and are available again to huge, openness with out doing something in any respect. You’re simply sitting as huge open huge awakeness.
Typically the ego tries to get entangled and tries to make consciousness by some means huge open and power it, or do one thing to make consciousness open. However that’s, in fact, unattainable. Consciousness is all the time huge open. There’s completely nothing you are able to do to make it extra open. So, when you’re spending time making an attempt to broaden it or make it huge, or widen it, simply drop all that. It’s already huge. That’s simply getting concerned in doing one thing. It’s all the time fully awake. However it may be the case that we get actual sleepy. The very 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 means of working, generally you will 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 all the time fully awake.
This observe in a means is totally trusting the all the time already awake, huge 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 present huge awakeness which has all the time been there.
Anytime you discover your self all concerned in considering, simply loosen up. The considering can occur–you’re not making an attempt to manage or change or cease or deny the considering, 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 just’re not concerned with all of it and when you discover you’re getting concerned with it simply loosen up come again to huge open huge awakeness that’s not concerned with it.
In case you completely can not do that and your thoughts is simply working in a circle working in a circle making an attempt 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. Give attention to that and quiet down. In any other case, simply let it run in a circle. Don’t fear about it. Preserve resting as huge open huge awakeness with nothing to do. There’s completely nothing to do.
Discover in case your expertise is simply that you just maintain discovering issues which are flawed and also you need to repair them. You recognize, this feels bizarre and I ought to change it. Or that factor isn’t proper and I’ve obtained to regulate it–that’s all of the ego simply justifying its existence. We’re simply letting go of that fully 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 participating it. We’re simply sitting with huge open huge awakeness with every thing simply the best way it’s and letting go of that elementary sense of aggression. That deep aggression in opposition to ourselves that every thing’s not proper, and I’ve to alter, 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 whenever you let go of that and simply sit as your personal already present huge open huge awakeness, that does already really feel simply advantageous. It doesn’t want to alter something. It has elementary pleasure and compassion in direction of the self.
What if every thing 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 thing only for a short while, and simply let huge open huge 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 when you let go of all doing, you’ll simply naturally come to relaxation in awake, huge openness, not participating with any ideas in any respect.
As I stated, the meditation is asking you to belief that your elementary nature is mainly sane and open and joyous and sort with out you doing something in any respect. The extra you loosen up like this, the extra you begin to actually tune into the huge openness. Once more, you’re not making it extra huge open; it’s simply that you just’re noticing how boundless and actually unrestricted it’s. It’s not confined in any means. 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 huge open huge awakeness has no hooks in any respect for ideas. It’s clear to considering. Considering simply doesn’t catch on it, so, once more, there could also be a lot of ideas, however the huge awakeness simply doesn’t seize on in any respect. My pal 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 means of and there’s nothing to catch on. It’s simply huge 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 practising 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. Moderately, it’s the other. We loosen up and let go, and that brings us into pure presence.
Discover that you just’re not placing your self into an altered state. If we do actually sturdy, tight consideration focus model meditation we are able to typically find yourself in a very altered state, and that may really feel good, and you’ll inform one thing’s taking place 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, but it surely’s all the time there, behind every thing.
So in a means, if there’s any criticism about this, it’s like, that’s completely boring, that’s essentially the most regular pure factor on the planet. It doesn’t really feel like a cool altered state. So when you choose the completely neurotic anxious tight, “obtained to alter, obtained to alter, every thing’s flawed, I’ve obtained to change, every thing’s flawed, I’ve obtained to do that, I’ve obtained to do this, I don’t really feel proper, I don’t really feel proper, I obtained to alter, change, change, change, change,” then you definitely’re welcome to do this. Enter the world of the egoic self the place every thing’s all the time flawed, and irrespective of how a lot you alter, you may’t change sufficient to ever really feel okay, as a result of its complete means of being is to not really feel okay. Or you may simply let that go. Loosen up, discover the huge openness and huge 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, but it surely 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 huge open huge awakeness. Nothing may very well be extra grounding or regulating or harmonizing or soothing than simply merely resting as our personal already present awake huge 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 huge openness, our huge awakeness, freshness and presence. It’s all the time there once we simply cease making an attempt so arduous 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.
Superb. Be at liberty to maneuver and stretch, however discover in one other means, 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 distinct posture.
Dharma Speak, Q&A
The person who I consider as one of many actually, actually foremost academics 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 discuss final night time. I didn’t see it however I do know that occurred. His accomplice, Mukti is stepping ahead however nonetheless, in honor of Adyashanti, that was a meditation calmly in his model–not likely, it’s nonetheless how I’d train it. I bear in mind him coming ahead 25 years in the past, and actually speaking in a means that was fairly totally different than the opposite individuals I’d consider as Advaita academics on the time. These academics saved saying–that is like within the mid-90s–that any meditation you’re doing is simply reinforcing your ego and also you’ve obtained 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 recreation, form 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 just 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 ft underground, and many people assume, nicely, it is perhaps there, but it surely’s a gold statue that’s buried 100 ft underground. There’s latrine sewage and tree roots and useless animals and rubbish and stuff that I’ve to wash out and do all this work to shovel out and get out of the best way. Then I’ll get all the way down to that golden statue that’s lined with muck and I’ve to wash it off and clear it off and clear it off and clear it off after which perhaps it is going to shine proper. That’s when even when you settle for that you just’ve already obtained this awake nature the thought is nicely I’ve obtained 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.
However it’s not like that at al–not even a bit 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 the way to dig and what to get out of the best way and who is aware of the way to clear the stuff off? And who is aware of the way 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 predict we’re going to get there like that, however that’s all an entire 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 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 sturdy, that distraction is so sturdy, that it may’t simply by itself, irrespective of how a lot somebody says simply loosen up and be the huge open huge awakeness that you just already are, it simply can’t let go of the behavior. For some individuals, they solely have to listen to that after, and the entire the sport is up. The entire thing breaks open. They only acknowledge their very own innate huge awakeness: they’re performed. That’s exceedingly uncommon, but it surely occurs, as a result of that’s the reality, so each every so often somebody’s ordinary clenching into personhood, that form of doership, is relaxed sufficient already that they only hear it as soon as and it simply drops away. Personhood continues to be taking place, 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 a bit 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 making an attempt to rework into the form of factor that may let go, that we simply work on that transformation eternally, 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 eternally. 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 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 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 all the time coming again to that huge 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 may simply loosen up. So if we’re doing work it’s simply form of like oiling up these muscle mass a bit bit in order that they will simply do what they already know the way to do. So there will 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 by some means manufacturing awakening. So long as you’re manufacturing awakening, it is going to 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 irrespective of how arduous you attempt. In case you’re going to do something with egoic effort, simply get good at not being distracted from awake, huge openness. It’s actually, very easy for the exercise to develop 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 would possibly neglect that there’s actually simply that closing recognition that’s already there, irrespective of how good you might be, irrespective of how arduous you’re employed, irrespective of how arduous you attempt, it’s there it doesn’t matter what. It’s already there it doesn’t matter what.
Who hears the automotive alarm whenever you’re useless 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 useless asleep, what’s it that hears it and wakes up? One thing is all the time awake even whenever you’re useless asleep. There’s part of you that’s awake 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 whenever you’re useless asleep. That relaxed, it’s nonetheless simply *ding* huge open, awake. 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 huge open and awake. Otherwise you’ll be lucid even in deep dreamless sleep since you’re simply used to being huge open and awake. It simply form of occurs. It’s all the time there.
Good, so when you have 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 deliver 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 may be very fascinating, however you additionally talked about lucid sleep. Might you discuss a bit bit about that?
Michael: Yeah, we are able to develop into awake throughout a dream, however the dream continues, so we’ve got lucidity in a dream. The identical factor can occur in deep dreamless sleep, the place we develop into 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 develop into awake in precisely that very same method to this, which is a distinct form of dream. It’s all the identical lucidity. So we be taught various things from changing into lucid in every of these locations. The way in which I’m instructing this can be a totally different avenue of lucidity with totally different objectives than the standard 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 develop into lucid inside it. Sometimes your aim is to satisfy your fantasies or no matter. Whereas once we do it from a meditative perspective, we usually do it the opposite means, going from wakefulness into lucid dreaming or wakefulness into lucid sleep. However it may simply by accident occur the opposite means and the aim, 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 development. 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 fascinating. That’s a strong place to note.
Questioner 1: Thanks
Michael: yep, different stuff, feedback, questions?
Questioner 2: Simply needed to say two issues, one is the best way that you just felt about Adyashanti all these years in the past, that’s how I really feel about your teachings, which is like I’ve performed a whole 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 few 12 months each single week, generally extra, and it’s actually stable. 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 combined. It’s this factor I’ve been fighting which is just like the awakeness, the traits of it that emerge, proper? I’ve most likely 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 just 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 track ought to I play? Play a track that you just 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 means 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 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 vitality 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 then you definitely go do the ego stuff. That’s what we’ve been doing our complete lives. As an alternative, if that equipment doesn’t get engaged, you simply begin doing stuff. It’s the identical recreation: don’t have interaction the equipment.
Questioner 2: I believe it’s a worry 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 potential language, the vitality simply desires 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 similar time–tremendous empty. There’s no one doing it. There’s no payoff, and it simply retains feeling extra alive and extra energized. After a when you have a whole lot of alive vitality, and no one’s doing it.
Questioner 2: That resonates, but it surely’s very scary to me proper now as a result of it’s new. So thanks.
Questioner 3: Hello Michael. One factor that was a bit bit troublesome this time round was my leg obtained fairly painful about two-thirds of the best way in. Often, after I do a extra vipassana sort observe, it’s like, give attention to it, and that does assist with the ache a bit. On this case there’s simply a whole lot of “don’t do something about it,” and it made it trickier to expertise any stage of aid. So, I’m questioning when you have something to supply about that.
Michael: Yeah, so we do know that when you do actual centered vipassana on it there will be super quantity of aid in that, proper? So, that may be an important factor to do. However, why does the vipassana offer you aid? What’s the important high quality that’s doing it, or offering it?
Questioner 3: Properly, no less than in my subjective expertise, it turns the feeling into one thing that’s a bit 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 providing you with a whole lot of equanimity round it. What does it imply to say see the vacancy of one thing? It means we’re not participating 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 means of working all you do is discover that even that ache is simply huge open huge awakeness. You’re not making it into an object. It’s really the draw back of stepping into as vipassana: as you make it into an object after which slowly by concentrating on it rather a lot, 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 huge openness, so when you don’t seize on to the thought of the ache as an object, it goes means 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 technique so form of doing the other observe despite the fact 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 may have 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 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 believe 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 thing is okay, you already are that Golden Buddha. However, to me, what I notice sitting right here, but additionally beforehand, how belief can be a key to extra dualistic practices. How, whenever you’re digging by means of the roots and useless our bodies it’s not essentially about purification or making an attempt to see one thing, like how fucked up you might be, or your loved ones is. It’s extra about form of artificially creating adversity so you may 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 nearly like you must create that initiation for your self, that hardship, so you may bond even additional with the potential of deepening. Even whenever you obtained there you would possibly nonetheless really feel form of agitated.
Like what’s subsequent? Is there extra? How lengthy can I keep there? It seems like whenever you’re utilizing this adversity as a risk to see how one can undergo that perhaps nonetheless struggling and nonetheless not feeling such as you’re getting it. However on the similar time cultivating that deeper belief in a risk and to me that become a distinct 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 break up issues simply so you may see the wholeness.
Michael: You recognize there’s a very fascinating means of understanding meditation. For most individuals, we consider meditation as a selected approach. Or a selected, perhaps a number of, explicit strategies or complete traditions of many strategies. 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 is perhaps an identical however the place you’re coming from may be very totally different, and it results in a distinct consequence, as a result of you may have a distinct view despite the fact that you’re doing precisely the identical factor approach, proper? You with me to this point?
So what you’re doing proper now, with what you simply stated, is you’re bringing a nondual view again to dualistic strategies. That’s the way you’re imagined 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 strategies are dualistic and these are nondualistic strategies, and to a sure extent that’s true. However it’s additionally flawed, as a result of even all of the dualistic strategies we are able to deliver nondual view to these and do them precisely as they’re described however from a completely 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 whenever you’re speaking about it, in order that view isn’t typical, that’s not like how these are taught from inside their very own traditions normally. But when we deliver 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 when you’re doing them from the awake openness huge openness. So does that tackle what you’re speaking about?
Questioner 4: I assume just a bit nuance to that–after I stated 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 but it surely’s only a instrument 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, fascinating. So one of many principal 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 already know your psychology transforms, when you would possibly 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 rather a lot 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 characteristic, or what to make of that?
Michael: I believe spontaneity is precisely the best 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 means, 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 stated awakeness and I used to be typically drawn to the feeling of how vivid my eyes are, or how huge my imaginative and prescient is.
Michael: What was noticing that? No matter was noticing the brightness or noticing…
Questioner 6: It felt not vivid, and never huge, and never open. So, at any time when I used to be searching for white and/or huge and vivid 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 together with your expertise, all the time, okay. I’ll say that when you maintain tuning into the factor that’s noticing, it received’t be situated wherever it’s not situated in a spot. So ultimately you’ll discover this openness and huge awakeness and huge openness, as a result of at first we expect the noticer is situated able however the extra you examine that the extra you discover that it’s not situated wherever. However discover out for your self. I simply suspect that that’s what you’ll discover ultimately.
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 believe you steered not shifting, and my query is, can’t we transfer however simply be huge open and awake as we do it?
Michael: You would, 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 fascinating to note that the extra you’re hooked into your considering the extra you’ll fidget, and the much less you’re hooked into your considering 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 fascinating suggestions for your self, to see how a lot neurotic, you already know, you simply can’t cease shifting 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 when you decouple from the neurotic ideas your physique can really feel okay hastily, and really 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 fascinating. So a part of it’s simply providing a bit 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 is perhaps my very own mind
Michael: Typically I say that, however I don’t assume I stated 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 already know on the backside of the hill or no matter there it seems like consciousness isn’t a factor so you may’t discover it and so the attention goes away and the noticing goes away and I can’t inform if it’s taking place.
Michael: I’m confused. Consciousness goes away, so that you’re unconscious? In case you’re not unconscious, then consciousness is there.
Questioner 8: However it’s not one thing I can level to too, and that is perhaps linked 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 stated it’s not coming from one place
Questioner 8: Ah, okay. I’m questioning if my situation is…
Michael: It isn’t coming from wherever however it may be situated 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, but it surely’s not a conundrum. Simply enable the wakefulness to be awake. I saved saying relaxation as awake huge 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 thing.
Michael: There it’s. It’s not arduous 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 instances, 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 practising letting or not it’s after which I seen my ankle would itch after which some other place and some other place. 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 dimensions of my physique and the dimensions 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 these items. Is that this helpful?
Michael: Yeah, you’re beginning to discover the huge 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 larger, 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 needed 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 lovely to be on this house. I’ve a query. On the finish of this, my expertise tonight was actually, actually troublesome. Plenty of simply making an attempt to let go, let go, I must let go, till it simply wasn’t. And what occurred was every thing simply turned actually playful nearly, and form of emergent, is what it felt like. As an alternative 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: Properly I don’t know, are you tricking your self?
Questioner 10: I like being playful.
Michael: Possibly the playfulness may be very engaging, however are you doing it?
Questioner 10: It didn’t really feel that means, no.
Michael: Then you definately’re most likely not tricking your self. It’s simply whenever you cease combating so arduous–I imply–take into consideration a bit child, proper, they haven’t realized that every thing’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, until they like are hungry or hit their head or no matter, they’re in an important temper, as a result of every thing’s simply form of–wow!–and it’s solely when, oh I obtained, I obtained, I obtained, that every thing 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 already know phantasm?
Michael: That complete concept that, I obtained 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 arduous all proper.
Superb. Let’s finish issues there.
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