Guided Nondual Meditation by Michael Taft
Streamed on February 25 2022
I’m going to guide you thru a guided meditation this night. And this guided meditation is one thing we haven’t finished shortly, we’ve finished it earlier than however we haven’t finished it shortly. We’re going to do quite a lot of investigation, okay? So be ready to analyze with me this night. And I ask you quite a lot of questions and quite a lot of them are form of odd. However do not forget that the best way to work with that is to really not try to seek out the reply to the query in your ideas or by figuring it out or by, you recognize, in search of the best reply or by memorizing, you recognize, wanting into your reminiscence; however moderately simply instantly taking a look at your expertise. That’s how we do that, okay?
Meditation
So let’s start by setting our intention, tonight we’re going to meditate – why are you meditating? What’s the level? I would like you to tune into that now for only a minute. I’ll be quiet whilst you try this and I’ll inject myself with some intravenous caffeine from this stunning PG Suggestions black tea with some hemp milk. I’m not an enormous hemp milk fan however that’s what we’ve within the fridge, in order that’s what’s in there. It’s not too unhealthy.
Good. In order that’s why you’re meditating. So do not forget that, maintain that as a part of your intentionality, a part of the sensation of, you recognize, gathering your thoughts round why we’re doing this in order that it lets you be clear. Good. Subsequent let’s work on some useful resource stuff, proper? We wish to construct useful resource once we start meditating. So, first we’re going to do that by tuning into some gratitude. That’s what we’ve been doing for the previous few weeks, we’ve been doing a little gratitude follow. So I’m going to provide you about three minutes to simply take into consideration belongings you’re grateful for and really feel grateful for them. It’s actually easy. Don’t take into consideration belongings you’re supposed to be pleased about however don’t care about. Actually take into consideration belongings you truly do really feel grateful for and take into consideration them in a means that brings up that feeling of gratitude, and also you’ll discover it begins melting your physique, armoring. It begins making your coronary heart open slightly bit, and that’s good. So we’re going to try this for a pair extra minutes and I’ll simply be quiet right here whereas all of us try this collectively.
Okay? Good. That’s our gratitude follow and that’s just a bit little bit of heat up. One other a part of the nice and cozy up is once more to visualise some useful resource once more. And so what we’re going to do tonight is, I would like you to image a diamond; in no matter means, that is completely free kind. You do that in no matter means works for you. I would like you to image a diamond and this diamond is sort of a spherical diamond with triangular aspects, proper? It’s primarily a sphere, nevertheless it’s faceted and the aspects are triangular and this diamond is glowing with a form of very smooth, very pleasant, bluish white mild. Nearly just like the moon. Generally the moon, the total moon particularly, can replicate purple or orange slightly bit, however generally it’s actually white blue in a means that could be very, very, very nice. So an image of this large, clear diamond sphere with this simply slight, very slight blue tint to it; just a bit little bit of blue. And this can be a illustration of our personal deepest, awake consciousness. Our personal bodhisattvahood, our Buddhahood, proper? We’re simply symbolizing it, we’re simply picturing it. And, I would like you to simply really feel that this blue diamond, bluish, primarily clear, however simply barely bluish diamond sphere is radiating knowledge to you and also you’re feeling the knowledge. It’s radiating love, you are feeling the love, the super acceptance, proper? Love and acceptance, precisely the best way you’re, it doesn’t want you to vary in any respect. It loves you precisely the best way you’re. And moreover, really feel the playfulness and the spontaneity that’s current with this huge, clear diamond.
So I would like you to simply sit with that for some time, picturing it and feeling these emotions of affection and acceptance and pleasure and knowledge. Really feel assured, daring and assured. The Buddhas are by no means shy, proper? They’re prepared to vary the world and so there’s a form of confidence that comes from this Buddha-nature and there’s a playfulness of spontaneity. It’s not afraid, so it might play and it might take probabilities. So actually, really feel that, really feel that vitality coming at you now in a really nice means. We’re going to try this. We’re going to visualise that and really feel these energies for about 5 extra minutes.
Okay? Good. Now from right here, from this place, let’s start merely following the breath. Permitting the breath to easily do what it’s going to do. You don’t have to vary the breath in any means and once more we’re going to observe the breath in additional of an open consciousness fashion meditation. So loosen up, enable consciousness to be huge and spacious prefer it naturally is. Consciousness is already very broad, already huge, already spacious. We don’t must make it that means, we simply tune into that facet of consciousness. And from that place, with the thoughts very broad, sitting perhaps with our eyes open however with a smooth gaze. Only a very, very broad consciousness, permitting the wave of the breath to easily come up and cross, come up and cross by means of consciousness, with out us essentially having to seize onto it or give attention to it. We’re simply conscious of it. That breath wave arising in consciousness and passing away in consciousness. I would like you to stick with that now in a really mild and open means.
Keep in mind consciousness is simply conscious naturally, that’s why it’s referred to as consciousness. And it’s conscious of this breath sensation within the physique, the breath feeling the physique, the physique increasing naturally with the incoming breath and contracting naturally with the outgoing breath. It’s conscious of that with none wrestle in any respect. With none want to love, focus or slim consideration, or something. It’s simply the broad, open sea, the broad, open sky of consciousness, noticing the wind of the breath passing by means of it with none large deal.
Let your self unwind, let your self naturally simply let go. Let your self loosen up. Remembering that consciousness is each huge, it’s spacious, it’s relaxed nevertheless it’s additionally conscious. It’s very brilliant and clear, it’s not sleepy, it’s not muddy. So we’re each very relaxed, very open and relaxed and on the similar time conscious; very clear, very brilliant, all with none effort.
Okay? Good. Now what I’d such as you to do is to sink even deeper. Let go much more fully. Simply relaxation as consciousness, following the breath, simply observe the breath with none effort. Keep in mind consciousness is conscious so it feels the breath transfer. Feeling the breath root transfer and simply let the whole lot else drop away. Let it drop away just like the chains whenever you’re leaving jail. Let it drop away, like… fully. Let it drop away completely. Let it drop away such as you’re letting go of the heaviest burden. Simply enable your self to simply be merely consciousness conscious of the breath wave, with out some other burdens.
Okay? Good. Now from this place of simply open, huge, spacious, clear, brilliant consciousness I would like you to, proper now, simply look; if ideas are current, the place do ideas come from? I don’t need you to make use of your considering to determine this out. I don’t need you to make use of your reminiscence, or your understanding of neuroscience, or your concepts in regards to the mind. I don’t need you to attempt to get the best reply by figuring it out. All of that could be a mistake once we’re doing any such follow. As a substitute, I would like you to simply look or hear or really feel or no matter. In your personal expertise, as consciousness, the place do ideas come from? The place do they arrive from? Look. Look now and maintain wanting. Discover the place they arrive from. The place is the origin of thought? Look now.
In the event you’re making an attempt to determine it out, cease doing that. In the event you suppose you’ve solved it, maintain wanting. Simply maintain wanting in that place or listening or feeling or no matter. The place are ideas coming from? Are they..? In the event you suppose you discovered it, look, or examine is the best phrase; examine extra clearly, extra exactly. Proper now, look. The place do ideas originate?
Okay? Good. So that you’ve been wanting instantly at the place ideas come from. Trace, what in the event that they don’t come from wherever, proper? You would possibly discover that you simply’re having a tough time truly noticing the place they arrive from however, however perhaps not. Let’s look now at, instantly, at the place ideas go to. So in the event that they’re, don’t generate ideas on goal, simply relaxation as open, spacious consciousness; noticing ideas arising and passing. However when the ideas cross, watch the second of their passing. The place did they cross to? The place do they go away to? The place’s the trash can in your thoughts, proper? The place is that precisely? Look now. Once more, don’t determine it out. Look now. In your personal expertise, examine. Discover the reply for your self.
The place are these ideas going to? Preserve wanting, don’t simply be glad. Even when the reply is that they don’t appear to be going wherever, maintain watching that nowhere, so to talk, to which they disappear. It’s actually, actually attention-grabbing.
Okay? Good. Now you could have seen that it’s very troublesome to discover a place the place ideas come up from or a spot the place ideas go to. Very troublesome. We would even say it’s unfindable, proper? Now a associated query is, the place are ideas whereas they’re taking place? So, think about they come up and so they cross however in between arising and passing – you’re having a thought, proper? There’s an expertise there, however the place is that have precisely? Don’t accept the reply ‘in my head’. I would like you to essentially discover instantly, the place are these ideas after they’re taking place? The place are these ideas? Look clearly now.
Wonderful, okay. Now, after noticing the place ideas come up from and the place they occur after which the place they go to. Which, if you happen to’re wanting rigorously you’ll discover you’ll be able to’t even discover the place they’re taking place. They’re taking place however they don’t appear to be taking place actually wherever. Then what I would like you to look very clearly into, I would like you to analyze – to whom are these ideas taking place? Who’s the listener of the ideas? Who’s the haver of the ideas? The fast reply will likely be ‘me’ or ‘my mind’, or one thing. However what does that even imply? I would like you to look previous that simple reply into your personal expertise, proper now. Not your concepts about expertise, like if you happen to simply maintain saying, “effectively it’s me and my mind.” I would like you to look – who’s the haver of this thought? Who’s experiencing the thought? Look now, very, very rigorously.
Preserve wanting, actively wanting on this restful, open house of consciousness that’s naturally awake, naturally conscious, naturally relaxed. What or who’s having these ideas? To whom are these ideas arising? What’s considering? The place is it? Are you able to discover a thinker?
However it’s not simply ideas. There’s sounds coming in, there’s sight in case your eyes are open, there’s physique sensations. To whom is all this taking place? Who’s the knower of all these occasions, who, to whom is the whole lot arising? Look rigorously now. What’s it that’s conscious of the whole lot? In the event you simply say “me” or, “it’s my mind” or, “it’s my physique,” these are simply phrases. You gotta look. You gotta really feel it, you bought to analyze. Sense into it. To what, to whom is all expertise arising? Examine now, clearly. Look in your personal expertise, don’t settle for the straightforward solutions. Look. Look now.
Now, take a look at who’s doing any meditating. Who or what’s doing a meditation proper now? Once more simply considering ‘me’ or ‘I’m’ or ‘my mind’ or ‘my physique’; that’s not a solution. You gotta look. Look now. Look clearly, who or what’s meditating? Who or what’s making an effort? Who or what’s making an attempt to see? Attempt to see. Attempt to see that. However who’s doing it? Look rigorously you’ll discover one thing actually, actually attention-grabbing. Actually, actually attention-grabbing. Look.
Who or what’s meditating now? Look rigorously, look deeply. Who’s doing something? Who’s experiencing something? Who’s considering something? Who’s feeling something? Who’s listening to this guided meditation? Look now. Look clearly and punctiliously.
Good. Now from this place of huge, spacious consciousness that’s relaxed, that’s open, that’s relaxed, that’s awake. I would like you to easily start to radiate out love and pleasure to the whole universe. I would like you to radiate out emotions of peace and kindness in direction of the individuals of Ukraine. I would like you to radiate out love and understanding and kindness and compassion in direction of transgender kids within the United, within the State within the U.S. of Florida and likewise Texas and likewise everywhere in the U.S. I would like you to radiate out love and pleasure and kindness to the entire world. Peace to the entire world. Compassion to the entire world. Might everybody really feel the enjoyment of awakening, the candy kindness of compassion, the knowledge of awakening, the readability and confidence of the Buddha-mind. Radiate this out in all instructions now. Feeling the enjoyment, feeling the arrogance, feeling the knowledge. Feeling this absolutely awake Buddha that you simply actually are, blessing the entire world, therapeutic the entire world. Bringing pleasure and playfulness and spontaneity and readability to all beings.
Dharma Discuss
Okay? Good. Let’s let go of that now and I wish to speak slightly bit about this type of meditation that we’re doing, which is an inquiry fashion meditation, proper? We inquire. So we’re doing inquiry fashion meditation. I ask you a query, proper? Inquiry is finished with questions. I ask you a query and also you look.
And, as I discussed at first of the meditation and lots of occasions all through the meditation, I’ll simply repeat it once more right here – you’ll be able to’t do these form of meditations by making an attempt to determine it out. If you end up making an attempt to determine it out, cease that, and return to simply investigating, simply wanting. So the metaphor I all the time use for that is – it’s like The place’s Waldo. When you’ve got a The place’s Waldo image and somebody says “the place’s Waldo?” That’s the inquiry query. You’ll be able to’t go to your reminiscence, I imply presumably you’ve by no means seen this one earlier than. You’ll be able to’t go to your reminiscence to seek out out the place Waldo is. You’ll be able to’t use some form of logic or reasoning or no matter to seek out the place Waldo is. You simply must fucking look. And for some cause this, for me, was actually onerous to know. As a substitute I might attempt to determine it out. I attempt to get the best reply. And if you happen to carry up what you recognize is an effective reply, theoretically or philosophically, discover that doesn’t assist. You’ve, it’s a must to nonetheless do the method of wanting and persevering with to look. And if you happen to can’t discover Waldo you simply maintain wanting and also you simply maintain wanting and also you simply maintain wanting. And, perhaps, in some unspecified time in the future you’ll be able to say, “you recognize I’ve checked out each sq. millimeter of this and there’s no Waldo on this image.” Effectively, that’s an attention-grabbing reply, proper?
However you don’t know that from figuring it out and also you don’t know that out of your reminiscence. You don’t know that by means of some logical technique of reasoning. You understand that by wanting, your self, at your personal expertise, proper now. That’s the way you do any form of inquiry meditation, okay? I wish to prevent tens or a whole lot of hundreds or hundreds of hours of frustration of doing this incorrect. Right here’s the way you do it proper, okay? That’s the place you begin to actually get what these meditations are for and the way they work and what they’re about.
Now when it comes to once we’re in search of thought or we’re in search of the place they arrive, or the place they go, or the place they’re staying, so to talk. Or we much more deeply take a look at who’s having ideas, who’s even conscious of something, who’s doing the meditation. You understand, if I let you know the reply – I’ll let you know the reply – the reply is you’ll be able to’t discover any. You understand, there’s no place ideas are coming from. There’s not even a spot they’re going to. There’s not even a spot they’re positioned after they’re taking place, proper? There’s no place. There’s no, there’s – ideas are taking place – everyone knows they’re there, so to talk. It’s an expertise. However you’ll be able to’t discover a place, and if it feels such as you’re discovering a spot, look extra intently, proper? However me telling you that and also you remembering that doesn’t actually assist. You gotta see it for your self.
And much more deeply, much more powerfully, much more importantly for actually beginning to get up, we take it even a step additional and we are saying – “who’s even considering?” Discover the thinker. “Who’s even experiencing?” Discover the experiencer. “Who’s even doing a meditation?” Discover that doer. And, in fact, what’s the reply? The reply is, you’ll be able to’t discover one. In the event you suppose you’ve discovered one, maintain wanting. Look proper the place you suppose you discovered it and see you’ll be able to’t actually discover it. Once more, that doesn’t imply identical to, although you’ll be able to’t discover a place; ideas are taking place. They’re nonetheless taking place. And in the identical means expertise remains to be taking place, you simply can’t discover an experiencer. Meditation remains to be taking place, you simply can’t discover a meditator. And if it’s not your expertise, if you happen to’re like “no Michael, I discovered it.” Then I might say, “look extra intently – good – and look extra intently.” Look actually, actually intently.
You’ll find one thing very attention-grabbing, which is—you’ll be able to’t find it. And that’s referred to as unfindability; unfindability, non-locatability. And this unfindability is a side of vacancy, proper? It’s essential to see this vacancy for your self, to see it for actual and to see it in your personal expertise again and again and over and time and again. Finally it sinks in in a really deep, vital means. “Oh. Oh, there’s expertise, however there’s no experiencer, there’s ideas however there isn’t a thinker.” Proper? And even the ideas, even the experiences themselves in one other means are totally different. They’re not objects, they’re not positioned wherever. It is extremely, very attention-grabbing once we take a look at our personal expertise very deeply right here, which is what we do in inquiry meditation.
Now in different meditations on different Thursday nights you’ve seen me go very deeply into in search of vacancy, proper? And that’s referred to as vipashyana, we’re doing vipashyana, we’re in search of the vacancy. This inquiry meditation is simply one other means of doing one thing – the identical factor – or if it’s not precisely the identical factor it’s one thing fairly comparable. It’s fairly comparable. It’s only a totally different means of going about it.
And these inquiry meditations are beloved of sure traditions. For instance, Advaita Vedanta’s very into inquiry meditations. A few of the inquiry we did tonight is similar to Tibetan Buddhists faculties, like Mahamudra do any such inquiry and so they’re additionally associated to Zen. So a lot of traditions do that questioning. And, for some cause some people really feel like that’s onerous to do, and if it’s onerous to do – nice – do vacancy follow, you recognize, vipashyana.
However for different individuals there’s one thing very form of oddly satisfying about asking a query and going and searching and simply time and again seeing this very attention-grabbing factor, or these very attention-grabbing issues, proper? It begins to percolate up from under, it’s not a top-down factor. If it was a top-down factor it might simply be considering, considering, considering. It’s not about considering, it’s about expertise, proper? So – “oh it begins to return from the underside up” – and also you simply begin noticing your relationship to concepts, your relationship to expertise, your relationship to meditation. Even, to place it in a humorous means, your relationship to your self begins to vary very drastically.
Okay? So I actually like these inquiry meditations. The varsity that’s the most into them is Rinzai Zen, proper? Zen from the Rinzai college as a result of there’s a complete gigantic means of working with questions referred to as koan follow, proper? So everyone knows the concept of koans and most of us know at the very least two koans. There’s one koan we’ve heard of which is, ‘what’s the sound of 1 hand clapping’? However that’s not the actual koan, that’s form of a nasty translation. The true koan is ‘what’s the sound of 1 hand’. Right here’s – so take a look at my hand [holds closed fist up to view] – what’s the sound of that hand? What’s the sound of 1 hand? Discover that’s an inquiry query and if you happen to attempt to determine that out it’s meant to shatter your psychological equipment. You’ll be able to’t determine that out. You must simply maintain listening. And that, proper, direct expertise. It’s not one thing from reminiscence, it’s not one thing you’ll be able to determine. You’ve simply received to maintain listening. After which one thing attention-grabbing occurs. And it’s not simply ‘the reply is, there isn’t a sound’. You’ve received, it’s an inquiry query. And it’s actually, actually attention-grabbing.
The opposite koan that most individuals have heard of is ‘Joshu’s Canine’, proper? So does a canine have Buddha-nature, or not? And the reply is ‘Mu’. Which suggests, form of, like, not. However it’s not a solution to the query, when it comes to like, an mental reply. The reply ‘Mu’ is extra like a cosmic, mystical sound or one thing. And in order that’s even deeper – although that’s the primary koan – it’s a really deep koan as a result of it simply introduces you to only a query you’ll be able to’t reply and you’ve got, and it’s a must to reply it, proper? In order that’s the, in order that’s Renzai Zen. And that’s one other type of these inquiry questions. That’s the custom that in all probability goes the furthest with the concept of inquiry.
Zen additionally, you recognize the form of inquiry the place we mentioned, “you recognize, who’s truly conscious of something proper now?” That’s in Zen. In lots of traditions that’s the core inquiry query. That’s a very powerful inquiry query there may be.
In Advaita Vedanta significantly the Vedanta, as taught by Ramana Maharshi, he says “the one meditation is who am I?” Which is one other means of asking that very same inquiry query – who’s experiencing something proper now? Who’s conscious? It’s simply one other means of asking who am I?
And that’s the core query. That’s the deepest inquiry query. You might simply maintain asking that query time and again in your meditation after which wanting. However you’ll by no means determine it out. You’ll by no means arrive at a logical response. Quite, you’ll truly see who or what’s wanting – who – you’ll truly see who you’re. And that will likely be an enormous shock. Trace – it’s not who you suppose you’re.
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