What If? – Deconstructing Your self

Nondual Guided Meditation with Michael Taft

So let’s start just by checking in. Simply tune into your self and see what’s happening. Ask your self the query, what’s it prefer to be me proper now? And also you examine into your physique, examine into your feelings, your thoughts, and no matter else. Simply examine in with your self, what’s it prefer to be you proper now? And no matter it’s like, that’s the right strategy to be proper now. So, nevertheless it’s, no matter you discover, is strictly the best strategy to be proper now. So let’s simply examine in with that for a minute.

What if precisely the best way you might be proper now could be the absolute best strategy to be?

Good. Now, as regular, let’s simply start with just a little little bit of some stabilization. So I need you to simply chill out into the huge open sky of your thoughts and into that huge unimpeded boundless sky simply discover, with none focusing, with none effort, simply discover that the feeling of respiratory is seen and the feeling of respiratory rises and falls and is seen within the sky of consciousness, with none effort it rises and falls like a wind rising and falling on this huge open sky. And let’s simply be with that collectively for some time right here.

We’re not focusing our thoughts, our consciousness is large open. The feeling of the breath rising and falling in consciousness is accessible with out consideration, with out the strain of consideration it’s simply naturally current. If the sky of consciousness tightens down right into a ball round pondering, simply enable the pondering to dissolve again into the sky, and chill out again as consciousness. If the thoughts tightens round a thought, simply chill out the tightness, enable the thought to, simply of its personal accord, drop away and the thoughts returns to the vastness of boundless sky.

Good, now into this sky of consciousness, this endless sky, enable a picture to come up, a picture of a fountain. It may be made from something and it may well have any liquid in it, however this fountain is the fountain of pure liberation, fountain of pure enlightenment. I need you to see very clearly this fountain is flowing with the waters of liberation. I keep in mind one time I used to be at an artwork set up in Los Angeles and there was a big fountain with a transparent liquid in it and the signal mentioned that it was a fountain of pure liquid LSD. You possibly can have no matter liquid in your fountain you need, however discover that it’s received sure qualities, this fountain has sure properties. One is that it’s filled with vitality, it’s continuously shifting and flowing and shifting and altering. It’s by no means static or stale, it’s recent and clear and filled with vitality. Actually discover these properties of its freshness and cleanness and vivacious, vigorous, energized high quality, and really feel that very same energetic high quality coming into your physique now.

Good, now discover that the fountain has extra qualities, it has the standard of kindness, and it’s flowing with a way of affection and pleasure and compassion, overflowing, spraying, effervescent kindness and pleasure and love. And really feel these properties too, coming into your coronary heart now, coronary heart overflowing as a supply of affection and pleasure and kindness. Good. Moreover, discover that the waters, or the liquid on this fountain, has a way of great readability and knowledge, it’s overflowing with awakeness, vivid, vivid, clear, lovely awakeness. 

And this hyper-lucid high quality of wakefulness and readability and knowledge is coming into your thoughts now all collectively. See the fountain flowing with knowledge and readability and vivid, shining awakeness, lucidity, love, pleasure, and compassion, and a sort of springy, bubbly, playful vitality of spontaneity and liveliness. On an in-breath deliver that fountain into your physique and have your physique flip into the fountain, so that you just your self are the fountain of liberation, you your self are the fountain of awake consciousness, you your self are the Buddha, and really feel the vitality of the fountain flowing upward out the highest of the pinnacle into the sky and raining again downward, as a rain of all these qualities, lovely peaceable rain of liberated and joyful kindness and vigorous playfulness. 

What would it not be prefer to be a fountain of pure liberated love and knowledge? Simply be with that now. Be that now.

And now let that every one fall away and simply relaxation as boundless, timeless sky of awakeness. That is merely resting something in any respect that arises within the sky of awakeness. It simply dissolves again into the sky with out leaving a hint of any sort. For those who’re sleepy sit up, in case you’re actually sleepy, or simply in case you really feel prefer it, sit together with your eyes open. This can be a sky of boundless wakefulness. And I need you to ask your self now, what would it not be prefer to be fully free? What would it not be prefer to be completely liberated? I don’t like to consider a solution or think about something, simply ask that query and are available again to resting because the sky, it’s a boundless sky. What would the thoughts of excellent freedom be like?

Once more, if ideas come up, we’re simply letting these go, concepts come up, they only dissolve again into the sky. We’re not imagining solutions or pondering.

Good, now ask your self the query, what would it not be prefer to have a coronary heart overflowing with love and kindness and pleasure? Good, now ask your self, what would it not be like if the physique itself have been the vitality of pure freedom, playfulness, spontaneity? The physique, simply as it’s, precisely the best way it’s, what if that have been the vitality of pure liberation? Not another physique, not your physique is by some means higher or mounted however this actual physique, the vitality of pure liberation, pure playful, spontaneous freedom. What would it not be like if there have been completely nothing to vary, no plans to make, nothing to repair, all the things already full and excellent? All ideas of any sort simply dissolve into boundless sky effortlessly, naturally, unimpeded. What if the place of your saddest most terrified damaged aloneness, what if that place, have been equivalent to your deepest awakening?

Good, what if all these issues are literally true and also you, proper now, simply precisely the best way you’re a totally awake enlightened buddha? Proper now, totally free, totally sort, wakeful. Acknowledge that now. Acknowledge your already current woke up coronary heart and relaxation as that, with out altering something.

Now once more, into the sky of liberated totally joyous, boundless awakeness think about this fountain once more, the fountain of pure, on this case, pleasure, kindness, belonging, and compassion, love, and film this fountain radiating out out of your physique in all instructions, capturing out so excessive and so large that it’s bringing this love and pleasure and kindness to everybody in all places, all folks in all places, all animals in all places, all beings of each sort in all places, and by in all places I imply in all universes, the vitality of touching their coronary heart filling them with an actual sense of being seen and held and beloved and nurtured and cared for after which as a result of it’s an imaginal fountain flip it up 10 instances, 10 instances as sturdy, 10 instances as mild, 10 instances as candy, after which much more, after which much more. Soaking universe after universe in divine love and pleasure and kindness.

After which, let go of all of it and simply relaxation as house, elementary freedom, elementary fullness. 

Chant

Good, now you’ll be able to let go of the meditation, be happy to maneuver and stretch.

Questions and Solutions

Michael: Good, so anybody have any feedback or questions?

Questioner 1: So it was simpler to take a seat this time.

Michael: Superb. Have been you working towards within the meantime?

Questioner 1: I went to the fitness center.

 Michael: You went to the fitness center. That’s its personal sort of follow. Superb. Different feedback or questions?

Questioner 2: What was the very final thing that you just mentioned to finish the meditation? What does it imply?

Michael: So, that’s a really conventional Sanskrit verse, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. Bhavantu comes from the verb to be, it’s cognate to the English phrase be, so the Bha there is identical as be. Bhavantu is a subjunctive so perhaps. It’s attention-grabbing bhavana or bhava, similar verb, may imply to meditate, so there’s a sort of attention-grabbing valence there. However on this sentence, it means to be. Sukhino, let’s go away that for later. The primary half lokah is identical because the English phrase location. On this case, it means in all places in all places, lokah in all places. Samastah–might all beings, everybody in all places, might all of them be. After which the third phrase out of 4 is sukhino anybody know the phrase sukha? Sukhino–might all of them be glad, so might everybody in all places be glad. Very, very easy Sanskrit verse that I actually like, and since Sanskrit is linguistically associated to English components of it are comprehensible if you realize what to hear for. 

What else?

Questioner 3: If you use phrases like huge sky or huge thoughts within the meditation, nothing actually occurs and like…

Michael: Good, nothing’s alleged to occur.

Questioner 3: However there’s a cause why you point out these phrases, proper?

Michael: Sure. So, it may well generally appear as if the thoughts is sort of tight, or sort of small, and positively, if we’re feeling actual agitated or anxious or ashamed or one thing, it may well actually really feel like we’re locked inside a good little ball, a really uncomfortable little ball in our thoughts. But it surely’s humorous, that’s sort of a trick we play on ourselves as a result of one factor the thoughts can do is sort of curl again on itself, if it feels prefer it. And that may be sort of uncomfortable.

However for a cause that no one is aware of, though it’s in all probability just a few sort of playfulness, we select to do this, and we’ve realized to do this, and our society reinforces us doing that, curling again in that tight little ball. However that’s not the true situation of the thoughts, in any respect. The true situation is simply boundless house and a luminous cognizance. So it’s not simply lifeless house, it’s actually awake house with none tightness in it in any respect, and so I’m simply inviting you to note that about your individual thoughts. And in case you don’t discover it, it’s since you hold wanting contained in the tight ball, utilizing tight vitality to look contained in the tight ball, and so it’s such as you hold enjoying the trick on your self. And but, the minute you simply chill out for a second from doing that, it’s simply open.

Okay, so it’s not that one thing’s alleged to occur or like, you realize, the sunshine shines–it simply goes from slim to tight, that sort of effort, to simply relaxed, open, okay? However what’s attention-grabbing is even me doing that’s extra effort than it actually takes, simply that gesture of my arms is extra effort than it actually takes. Severely, it’s simply because the tougher you effort, the tighter you’re making the ball, so you realize just like the Chinese language finger lure factor? I don’t know what we actually name that, however you realize it’s like a factor the place you attempt to pull your finger out and it will get tighter and tighter, that’s what it’s like. So the extra that you just attempt to get out of the tight thoughts by pressure or pulling or tightness, it simply will get tighter. But it surely’s a sort of magic trick the place you simply chill out and it’s simply not tight anymore. Okay? If that doesn’t make sense, simply hold–I hold inviting you to note and ultimately you go, oh yeah, that was all the time there. 

So if there was a gunshot proper now off within the distance, that is America, there’s a gunshot off within the distance, would you hear it? Sure or no?

In all probability, in fact, you’d hear it. How did you hear that? How did you hear it? As a result of consciousness is in all instructions, proper? It’s already there, so consciousness is already naturally large in all instructions. And it’s solely as a result of we’re on function tightening down into just a little ball, and we get educated to be targeted in that method, and we receives a commission to be targeted in that method, and we get praised for being targeted in that method, we overlook you could simply be open. However that’s what your thoughts needs to do, simply chill out and be open. So after I say these phrases, I’m simply pointing to what’s all the time been there and welcoming you to acknowledge what’s already there, okay? You don’t consider me however that’s okay.

Questioner 3: No, I consider you. 

Michael: Please, don’t consider me, simply discover it for your self. 

Questioner 3: If I chill out an excessive amount of, I really feel like I simply go to sleep. That’s my challenge proper now. 

Michael: Certain. And once more, that’s as a result of we hold ourselves so tight with quite a lot of anxiousness and pressure and if we chill out the pure factor is to conk out. Okay, however even once we’re conked out the notice is simply as awake. You’ll nonetheless get woken up by the gunshot. So the fixed background of our lives…and so ultimately you’ll discover that even within the deepest sleep you’re simply as awake. Okay, so for now, if conking out is an issue meditate together with your eyes open, sit up, and simply chill out. Sometimes, not in your case, I don’t know you, however very generally there’s one thing we’re making an attempt to not discover, one thing we don’t need to really feel, or one thing we don’t need to take into consideration, and so we both keep actual anxious or if we begin to chill out we go unconscious, so we don’t should really feel it or discover it. So the trick there, not essentially for you, however for plenty of folks, is to on function search for the factor you don’t need to really feel and really feel it, or take into consideration the factor you’re making an attempt to keep away from enthusiastic about, and simply be with it for some time. After which unexpectedly you may be extra awake once you chill out as a result of there’s nothing to keep away from. Sounds fairly simple. Thanks in your query. 

What else? I need some onerous questions or some actually silly questions.

Questioner 4: How strict is the no-moving rule?

Michael: Method stricter than what you probably did.

Questioner 4: I picked a place, I used to be making an attempt to save lots of my again, and I noticed midway via that my knees are on hearth. That’s all I might take into consideration the entire time.

Michael: I noticed it. So both sit in a chair or get the next cushion. You possibly can stack two up in order that your hips are method above your knees. That’ll in all probability do it or like I say, simply sit in a chair.  It’s not–we’re not sitting rigidly nonetheless, it’s relaxed, okay? So if it begins to be actual uncomfortable I invite you to both enable that discomfort to be the opening that you just undergo to awakeness. It will probably actually work or once more subsequent time simply have a chair. It’s nice to have you ever right here. 

Questioner 5: In a scenario the place it’s sort of onerous to chill out like that’s it nonetheless preferable to try to like enter that huge house? I overlook the way you worded it. Or do you need to try to concentrate on that factor that you just’re in all probability avoiding?

Michael: It’s a judgment name. For those who’re actually agitated, then simply see in case you can chill out however in case you’re actually conking out, see in case you can get up just a little bit by sitting up straight or opening your eyes. However in case you discover you’re too agitated, which suggests your thoughts goes throughout, see in case you can simply breathe deep and chill out. For those who’re conking out, strive to perk up, open your eyes. But when what you’re noticing is a sort of resistance or avoidance or a bouncing-off feeling, such as you’re bouncing off, then you definately may need to examine and as a substitute of ‘what’s it prefer to be a superbly woke up dachshund’ or no matter my questions have been, you’d say, what am I avoiding proper now? After which simply open and it’ll come up.

Okay, in order that’s the way you may do this. And that is likely to be a wild experience. It may not be 5 minutes. That is likely to be a complete hour of sitting with that however ultimately, I imply that’s price doing, after which ultimately you’ll discover you’ll be able to actually begin to drop in. Okay?

Questioner 6: I’m enthusiastic about this second within the meditation once you mentioned one thing about you’re sort of inviting all these actually form of constructive experiences of kindness and love and no matter, after which I believe in some unspecified time in the future you invited one thing like emotions that we wrestle with after which mentioned one thing like, what in the event that they have been the identical factor?

Michael: I mentioned, what in case your most damaged unhappy aloneness have been the identical as your deepest awakening? 

Questioner 6: Are you able to communicate extra about that?

Michael: Yeah, so once more it’s sort of associated to what we have been simply saying or what I used to be simply saying the place on this method of working it’s not that you need to really feel nice on a regular basis or are attempting to be this excellent factor, or solely have good feelings, or solely good ideas, or no matter. All ideas, all feelings all states of thoughts, all states of being are nonetheless doorways to awake consciousness. They’re simply as awake. 

And, actually, what begins to sort of impede that’s if there’s issues we don’t need to really feel and don’t need to suppose and don’t need to expertise. That begins to construct a sort of obfuscatory Berlin Wall, you realize, like an actual wall seemingly between you and awake consciousness. In order that stuff that we’re making an attempt to keep away from, in essence, we’re sort of avoiding our self. And so, the best way via, the best way in is all the time via, proper? We go in, in, in, in… So these locations the place you’re like, I’m so damaged and alone and and and… it’s I’m too sick to ever be healed and too insane to ever be awake, and no no one might probably love me, and the way can I… you realize, that sort of feeling proper inside the middle of that–I imply really feel it proper now, proper inside the middle of it. It’s simply as awake as anything. It’s simply as clear. It’s simply as spacious. It’s simply as sacred. It’s simply as pure. We don’t keep away from that, or by some means put that within the basement and, you realize, attempt to by no means really feel that. As a substitute, we make buddies with all, all, all ideas, all emotions, all the things that arises, proper? It’s the one method. It’s the one method. And it’s that factor of, you realize, you’re sitting there and also you get up at 3 a.m and simply how magnified a few of that destructive content material can turn out to be, proper? It will probably simply seem to be you’re just a little baby once more, and also you’re simply so afraid, we’re so alone, or so damaged, or no matter and that second may be like one of the best meditation you’ve ever had. 

You understand the place you simply say sure to that and simply discover that the core of that’s shining with actual readability, and wonder, and a sort of aliveness, proper? A sort of actual aliveness. No, it’s not that we’re on function, you realize, soaking in that. Though, if you wish to do this positive, however you realize when that comes up that we’re used to pondering like, oh, that’s the unhealthy factor, that’s what I need to make go away, and banish it without end. And that banishing is sort of a banishing of ourselves, it banishes our personal awakening. Our personal liberation means all of the issues are accepted, all of the issues are included, all this. 

How might any state of thought or feeling ever damage your awake consciousness? They’ll’t and, actually, they’re really the expression of it. They’re made from it. All of the highs and lows and wonder and darkness, all of it. So we welcome all that. And also you’ll discover, unexpectedly, you’ll be able to drop in in a method that you just weren’t in a position to earlier than as a result of earlier than you have been bouncing off, and bouncing off, and bouncing off, however since you mentioned sure you didn’t bounce off, you went in. Okay?

Once I was a very little child my sister went to lady scout camp and she or he got here again after weeks, and I used to be–we have been little sufficient that her being gone for like two weeks was an enormous deal–I used to be like, oh my god, you’re again! And he or she introduced together with her just a little toy, you realize it’s like just a little bare man with large hair, a troll. Yeah, a type of, and she or he had this wood plaque like that large that utilizing a magnifying glass somebody had burned into it the slogan do the factor you worry and the dying of worry is for certain which I nonetheless keep in mind despite the fact that I used to be like 4 after I first noticed it as a result of she introduced again the engraved plaque and I used to be like, oh it’s like actually necessary. Do the factor you worry and the dying of worry is for certain and it’s the identical concept. Not that we’re making an attempt to kill worry however go in and the wholeness is there. Once we don’t need to really feel one thing, we don’t need to expertise one thing, that’s we’re creating fragmentation inside ourselves. And what we’re working towards right here is wholeness, actual wholeness, not simply fairly wholeness. So what factor are you avoiding? What factor are you–I really feel like I give this discuss each week–what factor are you making an attempt to not really feel or suppose? That’s the best way ahead. Thanks in your query. Yeah.

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