Streamed stay on June 20, 2024
Meditation
Welcome to tonight’s meditation. Let’s begin out like we did final week, with some mani mantra. In the event you’re not used to doing this, that is the usual mantra of Avalokiteshvara: it’s om mani padme hum, and we’re going to do it for like 5 minutes. It’s good should you do it with lots of power. The entire level is to lift power, proper? Get you energized. All non secular apply of any variety raises power, as a result of most of you, on a mean day, with a mean quantity of power, your thoughts is optimized to make use of all that to gas your neurosis, proper? It’s completely optimized to make use of all that up, and so to interrupt out of our neurotic thoughts into some risk of change in any respect, we’ve to lift our power—no matter meaning to you. I’m simply going to name it power. Non secular apply of many many many types raises power, and so that enables us to chop by way of the neurosis and into one thing new—reduce out of our behavior patterns. Besides, if, whenever you’re elevating power, and, let’s say you’re doing a mantra apply out loud—om mani padme hum—and we’re doing it, and also you’re simply nonetheless sitting there spinning in your neurosis, your neurotic techniques will simply dissipate, suck up all of the power, and simply make you spin quicker in your craziness.
So, bear in mind, whenever you’re doing the mantra, to stick with the mantra, keep together with your coronary heart. Make it possible for further power you’re creating goes in direction of reducing by way of, not simply spinning in your bullshit, okay? So, once more, the mantra is om mani padme hum, and there’s a there’s a behavior for folks to form of say om manee podmee whom—it’s “padmay,” proper? We form of need to make these ending vowels rhyme or one thing, however they don’t rhyme.
Om mani padme hum
Now, simply resting within the power of that Mantra, staying broad open, stepping outdoors any form of entanglement with thought. Simply resting within the broad open, broad awakeness, and feeling your self breathe. Let’s try this collectively for some time right here. At the least for a second, simply contact broad openness—even when it’s only for a second. Only a thoughts like open sky, simply completely clear, shiny, unentangled, no creativeness, no thought, simply openness.
Then, from there, let’s perform a little Tonglen, for your self, or for somebody you realize very well who’s struggling. You breathe in all of the struggling on the in-breath, imagining it to be like black smoke that you simply’re inhaling. Scorching, dusty stuff—thick, tough. Inhaling all of the struggling, taking all of the struggling on your self, and on the out-breath, giving them any peace, any reduction, any pleasure, any sweetness, any love, any mild. So, you’re taking over their ache, giving all of them your reduction. We’re doing this from the place of broad openness. That broad openness has an infinite capability to tackle this issue. It’s not prefer it’s simply our personal little persona attempting to take it on—that will be an excessive amount of. We’d be overwhelmed. However, as broad openness, skylike, broad awakeness, we’ve limitless capability, so we’re taking it on, taking it on, taking it on. Then freely giving all the nice, all the enjoyment, all of the peace, all of the reduction, all of the well being, all of the love, all the wonder, to them, in order that they really feel reduction.
The visualization on the out-breath is like white mild, so that you’re respiration on this darkish, darkish smoke of all the problem, after which respiration out this white mild of reduction, peace, pleasure, well being, love.
Good. Then let’s develop our circle of concern, possibly to 10 or 12 folks we all know. As a result of we’ve this infinite capability, we tackle all of their sufferings, and breathe out that a lot reduction, that a lot pleasure, that a lot kindness, that a lot love. Don’t maintain again. Discover any worry or reticence to take it on. It’s fascinating, right here we’re not holding again, and we’re not reticent. It’s like a hearth sale on the finish of time, we’re taking all of it on, and freely giving the whole lot we’ve bought.
Superb. Then, let’s develop our circle of concern once more, to incorporate all of the folks you’ve already been doing, after which everybody on this room. That is our Sangha, that is our apply group, and so we embrace them in our giving and taking, our Tonglen apply. So embrace the ache, struggling, sickness, difficulties, of everybody on this room. Discover it’s weirder with strangers. Do it anyway. Breathe it in, after which give away all the good things, all the enjoyment, all of the peace, all of the kindness, all of the satisfaction, all of the well being, all of the love, all of the belonging—give it away. Give it away, give it away.
Superb. And now, let’s develop it yet one more time, to incorporate each being within the universe. Not simply people, with all their struggling—and consider me, there’s lots of it, but additionally each animal whose house is poisoned or destroyed, or youngsters who’re killed, or trapped in a vivisection lab someplace. All animals, all alien beings, different worldly beings, all over the place, on each planet. Breathe in all that ache, issue, struggling—actually really feel it as a form of choking black smoke. After which, on the out-breath, give away the whole lot you’ve bought. Once more, due to our huge awake consciousness, there’s greater than sufficient means to take this all in, and provides away complete reduction, soothing the fear, respiration peace into the fashion and grief, calming the great sorrow, therapeutic the sick, loving the unloved. And simply discover how that modifications our fundamental stance, from that temper of, properly, I’m simply going to maintain ensuring my pile of beans is larger than your pile of beans—it’s all form of a zero-sum sport, to simply give away all of the beans, as a result of there’s no lack of beans.
This apply isn’t about someway having a giant emotional expertise—though that may occur, however that’s probably not the purpose. Simply discover how your coronary heart turns into softer, much less defended, extra open, extra goopy. And the sense of the atomized, divided, guarded, separate, self softens, and opens, and turns into permeable, and even linked—possibly even revealed to be what it truly is, which is completely nonseparate.
Okay, good. Now you may let go of that, and what I would like you to do is, within the very open manner, your thoughts actually relaxed, unengaged with thought. On every in-breath, really feel the breath going into the decrease dantian, into the spot a couple of inches beneath your navel, proper within the middle of your physique. It’s like an power spot there. Simply really feel the breath going into that, and on the out-breath it flows up the central channel, out the highest of your head, and into area. The out-breath releases the whole lot into area. So, in-breath, only a regular in-breath—will be sluggish, however doesn’t must be big or something, only a good breath. Really feel it filling or going into that spot beneath your navel, not on the pores and skin, however deep within the middle of the physique. Then on the out-breath, it goes up the central channel out the highest of your head, and your thoughts simply dissolves into area, into sky.
For some folks, having seed syllables related to this helps. So, on the in-breath, into the decrease dantian, into the beneath the navel chakra, we will say, om, om to your self, silently, as we breathe into that middle, feeling it energizing and warming. Then on the out-breath, out the highest of your head, thoughts dissolves into area, turns into simply open readability. There the seed syllable we’ll use is hre—hree. It’s actually H, R with a DOT below it, I, H with a DOT below it, however simply consider it as HREE. All the thoughts, all thought, all psychological constructs simply dissolve into broad open area. You possibly can let that out-breath, if you want—after all, do what’s snug, however you may let that out-breath be fairly a bit longer than the in-breath. Simply discover how the thoughts simply turns into vapor, and dissolves into area, evaporates into sky, and also you’re simply left with shining awakeness, utterly uninvolved with any thought.
On the in-breath, you are able to do it once more, silently, like, “ooooooooooooooh.” Going into that, actually energizing that chakra, actually feeling it crammed with heat and light and peace and power and readability. Then, on the out-breath, it’s HREE—the whole lot up and out the highest of the pinnacle. It simply evaporates within the sky. In fact, don’t make any effort to reconstitute the thoughts on the in-breath. It could try this of its personal accord, but when it doesn’t, that’s advantageous. We’re probably not doing a visualization right here, you don’t must image any of this in creativeness. You simply form of really feel it, or turn into it.
Time and again, the thoughts dissolves into area, it evaporates into open, awake, skylike, consciousness. It’s unattainable to have any thought there, or, if the ideas are taking place, you’re not attaching to them in any respect, not being with them in any respect. There may be simply awakeness and openness.
Good. Then, on an in-breath, simply drop consciousness into that stomach chakra, and simply keep there, feeling the power there. Remembering we’re not projecting, we’re not imagining that we’re projecting consciousness down from the pinnacle, trying on the power middle, we’re simply inside it, feeling it from inside it. Noticing the vibratory, always altering, highly effective, sense of power there, vitality. Simply stick with that, from inside it. You might discover how, with every in-breath, it type of costs up, and with every out-breath, it radiates outward. So, we’re not doing the dissolving the thoughts outdoors, above the pinnacle, however somewhat, simply staying with this power middle. As you stick with it, you could discover it get hotter, extra energized, extra apparent.
To the very best of your means, stay utterly uninvolved with thought. Once more, we’re not stopping considering—it will possibly try this as a lot because it desires within the background, however simply don’t have interaction, stick with the sensation, the power feeling, within the physique. Doing this visualization, this being nonvisualization, being with the power, you could discover that your entire physique feels form of energized. It could be very straightforward to give attention to that power, and journey it into an altered state from that. Simply keep in mind that you possibly can try this, we’re not going to try this, nevertheless it’s there as a risk.
As a substitute, discover what’s contained in the power middle, contained in the power. Within the power middle, what do you’re feeling proper inside it? Proper within the middle—it’s huge openness, huge area, infinite area. In the event you’re trying on the middle, that’s exhausting to see, however should you’re in that middle, it’s simply Infinite area—not as a visualization, not as an creativeness, however as a direct feeling. The middle of the physique is open to infinite area. Then, outdoors the physique, like we noticed after we have been doing the HREE, is open to infinite area, inside and outdoors, simply infinite area. There’s no boundary between them, there’s simply broad open, broad awakeness, completely clear and shiny, relaxed and open, together with the whole lot, excluding nothing. Stay disengaged with any considered any variety. Simply be with the expertise, shiny, clear, crisp, relaxed, spontaneous, openness. Wakeful, no boundaries of any variety.
Discover the great stillness of this open awakeness—it’s totally nonetheless, completely silent, completely boundless. Brightly, shiningly, awake. Completely nonetheless, clear, silent, openness—regardless that it’s open like sky, the stillness is stable like a diamond, like a mountain of diamond, simply completely rock stable nonetheless. Completely silent.
Good. Now, from this area of nonetheless, silent, broad awakeness, discover the flavors of sensation and motion within the physique. They’re not nonetheless—the sentiments of power, the sentiments of standard sensations, the motion of the breath and the beating of the guts, and so forth. All of the stuff that’s not nonetheless—discover that it’s not in any manner separate from that stillness. They’re completely different—one is transferring, and one remains to be, however they’re by no means separate. We may nearly say that the actions, the sensations, expressions of the stillness. Hear the sounds of the world round you. They’re completely different than the silence—it’s sound, it’s noise, so completely different from the silence, however by no means separate. Not in any manner separate, ever. You possibly can’t have the sound with out the silence. They arrive collectively.
Discover the actions of the thoughts, with out participating with these actions. The exercise of thought—it’s like a steady babbling brook—so completely different from the stillness, and but by no means separate. The ideas come up out of the stillness, and solely will be due to the stillness. They’re at all times collectively, they comprise the stillness.
Good. In case your eyes are open, discover the world round you—constantly in motion, a riot of colour, form, type. Expression so completely different from the huge boundless, open, readability, however by no means separate from it in any manner. It’s the expression of the openness, the daughter of the area. So, noticing the stillness, the silence, the openness, the readability, and all the sentiments within the physique, all of the sensations of power, all of the thought exercise, all of the sounds, all of the sights, and the whole lot else—by no means separate. The one requires the opposite, and accommodates it.
Now, I would like you to have a look at what’s having this expertise—don’t give it some thought, don’t attempt to remedy it, don’t think about it, simply look. What’s having the expertise? Is it emotions and thought exercise? Is it stillness, silence, openness? Simply look. Simply look. What’s having this expertise? Look, proper now. Discover it. You possibly can’t discover it by excited about it, you must look.
Okay. Let’s finish that there.
Q&A
In the event you’ve bought any questions for me, or stuff developing, elevate your hand. Do not forget that the Web is listening.
Questioner 1: Hello. My query is about working with emotions and feelings, and realizing the area behind them, beneath. I believe it goes by way of realizing vacancy for me, which means, let’s say, if I’m working with anger, and the power of that second, I discover the area is after I noticed the vacancy. However, for another form of feelings, like nervousness I’ve been sitting with, I discover it extra like a composite, somewhat than a less complicated form of an emotion…
Michael: It’s simply worry, so it’s an emotion.
Questioner 1: Yeah, proper, and I believe it’s composite as a result of there are a number of issues that I’ve to comprehend, like vacancy of self, of sensory experiences, of there’s additionally greed, there are such a lot of various things inside nervousness. And the power behind it’s so fiery, and transferring, simply transferring from right here to there. Nevertheless it’s not clear from the place to the place. It’s not even a thought, it’s simply transferring—very excessive velocity. So, what to do with composite situations like that, which is that there are such a lot of issues to dissolve or understand. It’s simply an excessive amount of, too many issues inside it.
Michael: Certain. There’s lots of issues that we give a single title to, which can be made from composite parts like that. For instance, the sense of self in any respect is a bunch of ideas and feelings and physique sensations, and reminiscences, and all that. So regardless that we’re calling it a way of self, it’s composed of a bunch of items or parts. So, if we’ve a robust sense of means to see vacancy, we simply see the vacancy of the entire thing without delay, as a result of even when it’s completely different items, it doesn’t matter, they’re all empty. So we simply see the vacancy . However, if that’s not obtainable, then you definitely simply break it up into the composite parts, and go one after the other. Right here’s the emotion half, see the vacancy of that. Right here’s the considering half, see the vacancy of that—like that. And, you simply do it time and again, and ultimately you may see the vacancy of the composite. So, you simply have to take a seat extra, however on this case it’s not simply simply sitting there sitting. You’re being fairly deliberate about what you’re specializing in. That’s only one option to do it. As I say, the concept there’s a factor there that’s made from different issues is already a development. So, actually, you may simply form of see the constructedness of the entire thing—and that’s vacancy, proper? However that’s more durable, so if that’s not obtainable, then we again up and simply break it into items. Divide and conquer, proper?
Questioner 1: However then, after we take a look at the vacancy of the entire thing for nervousness, what’s that factor? It’s simply the entire.
Michael: Simply take a look at it. Even calling it an entire factor, we’re noticing its constructedness, in order that’s already pointing in direction of vacancy, proper? So simply the entire expertise, it’s only a psychological fantasy that has parts, however after all we will undergo that one bit at a time and see the vacancy of every of these so-called parts.
Questioner 1: Yeah, I imply, I don’t wish to undergo that.
Michael: That’s the down and soiled, pedal to the metallic vipashyana manner. In any other case, you simply chill out to the expertise and see the vacancy of the entire thing. Tougher to do, however a lot simpler.
Questioner 1: Yeah, thanks.
Michael: Sure, who’s subsequent?
Questioner 2: Hey, so after we have been doing this, and sometimes once I do physique somatic stuff, I used to be feeling lots of power construct up round right here [gesturing to the forehead, brow and bridge of the nose], even when specializing in the dantian. I believe that when that occurs, typically it feels painful, probably not painful sufficient for me to need to cease sitting, however sufficient to have an impulse to repair it, or let it transfer some place else, or let it form of equalize with the dantian down decrease. I’m wondering, when that occurs, is it higher to essentially examine it and look into that. Looking for that the area in between within the center, which form of works, or is that’s digging into that sensation, reifying it someway. Versus attempting to look out and at the whole lot else apart from it.
Michael: The reply is, it relies upon. Basically, that will all be thought-about a distraction from what we’re attempting to do, proper? So, should you can simply maintain going, simply maintain going, but when it’s actually changing into an issue—it hurts, or it’s an excessive amount of, then the easy repair that’s obtainable for some folks is, you simply intend the power to maneuver down. As you get good with working in power, you may intend it, and it’ll simply transfer. It follows intention. In order that’s why, for instance, should you’re doing a primary jhana, you may transfer the piti round. It should simply transfer wherever your thought goes, as a result of the power follows the thought. So, you simply do the identical factor with the power in your brow—simply deliver it down into the dantian, and then you definitely’re golden. If none of that’s working, and also you’re getting a headache, and it’s horrible, I’d simply say simply cease doing that meditation. However, if you wish to examine the factor, and primarily simply see its
vacancy somewhat than reifying it, however see its openness, its motion high quality, its spaciousness, try this.
Questioner 2: Thanks, I’ll experiment extra.
Michael: Yeah, superb. It’s actually essential usually, after we’re doing the power stuff, regardless that it’s like, right here’s this middle, and we’re meditating on it, and also you’re doing a sound there, and all that. Attempt to not reify any of it. Let it simply be a bizarre dream you’re having. It’s not like there’s an actual middle there—you’re treating it as nearly like a dream or one thing.
Questioner 3: Hey, I’ve a query about coming from a background of vipassana apply.
Michael: What sort of vipassana apply?
Questioner 3: Began with guided meditations, eyes closed, taking note of the breath, then every time you see one thing come up,
Michael: Any explicit retreats or something like that?
Questioner 3: Yeah, Spirit Rock.
Michael: Okay, bought it.
Questioner 3: Yeah, is it smart to choose a route and go together with it? Clearly, it’s all resulting in the identical place, however by way of a day by day apply, is it smart to choose, okay I’m gonna do that model or I’m gonna do that model, and try this on daily basis?
Michael: Assuming that you simply’ve tried out the menu of kinds, so that you form of know what’s on the market and what you want, sure. And, it’s not all going to the identical place. Completely different faculties have completely different concepts about the place this goes, and the concepts about the place it goes matter. We have been simply speaking about this earlier than class, you discover what you’re searching for. In the event you don’t suppose there’s one thing past that, you don’t look past that, and so forth. So, understanding the place completely different faculties suppose you’re going is essential.
Questioner 3: Okay, thanks.
Michael: I bear in mind, should you take a look at the guide Transformations of Consciousness from about 1985 or one thing, it’s primarily written by Ken Wilbur, however Dan Brown is in there a bit, and Dan did a very fascinating factor. He studied within the unique textual content the Visuddhimagga, so all of the vipassana stuff, after which the unique textual content of Patanjali Yoga Sutras, in order that model of meditation. Then—I neglect which Mahamudra textual content, however he studied it in Tibetan, and his conclusion, which I believe is fascinating and supportable, was form of the alternative of The Perennial Philosophy concept. Really, every of those three completely completely different traditions have been form of boiling right down to the identical sequence of meditations, however they have been ending up in completely completely different locations, as a result of they have been aiming for various issues, so as a substitute of all paths result in one purpose, it was like, all of the paths are equivalent, and the objectives are completely different. So, you possibly can take that or go away it, nevertheless it’s what you’re getting your self into.
Questioner 3: So, by way of discovering a apply to stay to, what would you suggest? Like simply training and seeing what works? Or, like, by way of trying in direction of the tip purpose, and seeing is that this one thing that resonates?
Michael: That’s a much bigger query. Once more, strive the completely different practices, to see the place the cylinders are firing. You possibly can actually really feel it. Completely different folks have completely different locations of resonance with completely different practices. But in addition, be taught sufficient in regards to the custom to grasp what they are saying the tip purpose is, after which—and that is vitally essential. That is simply my very own expertise: take a look at what the individuals who try this apply are like. Not simply one among them, however a bunch of them, as a result of that’s what you’ll find yourself like. [Laughter]
Different stuff developing for folk on the market in meditation land?
Questioner 1: So, the second strategy, which you mentioned that you’d take a look at the entire thing and understand the vacancy of it, which is more durable, however simpler. Would you agree that there’s no method to that? It simply both occurs or doesn’t, miraculously?
Michael: I wouldn’t say it like that. I’d simply say, as I discussed, it’s your facility with recognizing vacancy. That facility is skilled, identical to you may be taught to see a sign inside noise, however completely different folks have completely different skills there, primary. Then, quantity two, how a lot coaching have you ever had in seeing the sign within the noise. Over time, that will get simpler and simpler and simpler, the popularity will get clearer and extra apparent, clearer and extra apparent. So it’s not only a random issue, it’s a trainable factor of recognition.
Questioner 1: Okay.
Questioner 4: Yeah, hiya. I’ve a query about need. From awake consciousness, there’s form of an fascinating factor round pleasure, this language of effulgence from awake consciousness, you realize, the place you’ve bought Shakti because the expression of the enjoyment of the goddess, and vacancy. You possibly can really feel that radiant like a mountain made from diamond. Nicely, you didn’t say a mountain made from like metal or stone, it’s shining shiny, intense, radiant diamond. I’m form of curious in regards to the emergence of upper order non-emotions. We’ve talked in regards to the need of the Goddess, Shakti. Are you able to discuss in regards to the manifestation of need from the view—like desires and needs?
Michael: It’s an fascinating factor. If we’re working within the tantric mode or the Vajrayanic mode, need isn’t one thing to eliminate, however neither is it one thing to get all caught in. Slightly, discover that even, as I saved saying, the stillness and the exercise are by no means separate. The exercise comes from the stillness. The stillness is contained by the exercise. In one other manner, they they want one another, and so we will get on this transcendent mode of considering that, oh, there’s simply this sort of good stillness that needs nothing, and that’s the very best factor, however that’s not it, as a result of the proper stillness truly is pregnant with the whole lot. All that—the whole lot, busts out of there, due to need, yeah, nevertheless it’s not egoic need, it’s the need of the void. I don’t know the right way to put it. It’s completely different, it’s very easy to combine up, and it’s very easy to think about that my little worldly needs actually are the need of goddess, or one thing, which is basically one thing to look out for. However, it’s not like there’s simply this flat land of desirelessness. This all is right here due to need.
Questioner 4: Okay, yeah, thanks.
Questioner 5: I conceptually appreciated the instruction that was like, whenever you’re visualizing the power type of at your middle, to not visualize, or not even to visualise it, however to not visualize it from the place that we’ve our notion of consciousness, which is type of like in our head, which is an creativeness. And so, I appreciated that, however I felt actually caught when that instruction was given. I discovered it very tough to separate from that imagined location. So, I used to be questioning should you had any recommendation round getting nearer to that, or the right way to break that down just a little.
Michael: Are you able to discover that the sense that your consciousness is situated in your head is an creativeness? Are you able to discover that proper now? Is that obtainable?
Questioner 5: I believe so.
Michael: So long as you’re clear that it’s imaginary, then you definitely don’t must let go of it, or eliminate it. It’s only a image in your head. Now, come into the sensation, and you’ll be with it. So don’t attempt to battle that, however should you can’t discover that it’s imaginary, then the work is to maintain working with psychological photographs till you understand the refined ones actually matter. The actually wispy refined psychological photographs which can be so unconscious we’ve a tough time noticing them at first, turn into aware sufficient that you simply understand—oh, once I shut my eyes, and I think about there’s a room there, that’s imaginary. I imply, I’m not saying there’s not a room, however there’s an image in your head. Identical factor with the concept consciousness is situated in my head. That’s a psychological picture, and so should you can, you must work on with the ability to discover that, so that you by no means actually must separate them, as a result of it’s not actual. However, distinguishing, which is possibly what you meant by separating, sure. After which, you simply really feel your stomach, and let go of the form of psychological picture that there’s a highlight of consciousness in your head that’s beaming down on some chakra in your stomach. Noticing that it’s all simply in the best way, all of that’s simply additional mind power wasted. So, we let go of all that and are available into the stomach. May take some time to be taught to do it, nevertheless it’s not studying to do one thing new, it’s simply distinguishing.
Questioner 5: Okay. Thanks.
Michael: Okay, thanks on your questions all people, and for meditating with me, and we’ll see you subsequent week.
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