Streamed stay on Jan 2, 2025
Hey you guys. Welcome to this guided meditation. As common, let’s do some brief motion factor. I’ll do it from my chair. You are able to do it out of your meditation cushion, however simply start by respiratory upward like this. Actually increasing your lungs and chest, stretching your arms up, stretching your neck, again. You may take a pair breaths right here. Make it give you the results you want, after all. Have it fit your physique. Then slowly carry your arms down, respiratory out after which over a technique, opening your aspect ribs. Taking a deep deep deep breath. Respiratory, taking a pair breaths right here—making it give you the results you want—after which again up. Respiratory within the heart place for a second, after which taking one other deep breath and opening up the opposite method. Actually stretching open these aspect ribs—feels so good—after which coming again to heart.
Okay, after which, once more, if it really works for you, let’s do a twist a technique. Maintain it for a short time, after which twist the opposite method. Maintain it for a short time. Okay. Then you’ll be able to simply transfer forwards and backwards like this somewhat bit, to really feel some looseness, some openness. Rotate your arms and wrists, taking some good deep breaths. Then slowly carry that to a detailed.
What we’ll do is sit in our meditation posture. I’m in a chair once I’m doing this at house, so we simply sit up within the chair, good and straight, strive to not stoop again in a chair. In reality, the most effective is if you happen to lock the chair within the upright place, then sit ahead on it sufficient that my ft are flat on the bottom, and my again is definitely not being supported by the chair. I’m sitting up. However if you happen to’re in your cushion, then identical factor. You’re simply getting your again good and upright, having your chin down just a bit—bit not method down—however only a tiny bit, like 5 levels, in order that the again of your neck opens very barely. The very high of your head feels prefer it’s being lifted up in direction of the ceiling in a nice method, after which your shoulders actually loosen up, actually loosen up, actually loosen up, and you’ve got your arms in your knees. If you wish to do mudras, you set them in your knees like this, down, along with your palms in your thighs. Or, utilizing the identical mudra, you’ll be able to flip them over, with the backs of your arms flat in your thighs. Don’t maintain them up like within the mindfulness images on-line. Nobody meditates like that. Both flat down or flat up, or you’ll be able to relaxation them in your lap like this—that Zen mudra. Any of these are advantageous.
Now, no matter feels good for you, okay. As common, you are able to do most of those meditations both open-eyed or closed-eyed. For doing nondual meditations like we’re doing on this channel, historically we’d do them eyes open, as a result of ultimately with nondual meditation you’re doing it as you’re strolling round, and also you need to observe for that from the very starting. So that you are inclined to hold your eyes open when you’re meditating, however you don’t need to, particularly if it makes it actually lots tougher. Additionally, there’s form of an in-between one, the place you’ve your eyes technically open, however you’re trying straight down on the ground or the carpet, or one thing uninteresting like that, so mild is coming in, however you’re not likely taking a look at something. In order that’s form of the in-between one.
Okay, we’re going to start tonight with the bodhisattva of nice compassion, Chenrezig. Avalokiteshvara, he who hears the cries of the world. Though, in East Asia, he switches gender and turns into a she, and is Quan Yin. Typically known as the Virgin Mary of Buddhism, which isn’t in any respect what a bodhisattva is. However, in any case, I’ve heard Quan Yin described that method. We’re going to do the om mani padme hum mantra, which is, after all, the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the mantra of Chenrezig. Usually, it’s actually enjoyable once I do it within the room on the Alembic the place we’ve a gaggle of individuals, and we’re all doing it collectively. There’s no break within the sound, as a result of once I take a breath, different individuals proceed chanting. However right here, with simply me and also you, every of us in our rooms, or wherever we’re at, we’re going to do the om mani padme hum mantra collectively. So I’m simply gonna begin doing it, and I like to recommend for the mantra chanting, you try this along with your eyes closed, and simply really feel that sense of affection and compassion, and focus on your third eye.
Normally, earlier than we begin, we simply open up, we drop into our greatest approximation of awake consciousness. Simply noticing the openness and area and freedom of consciousness that’s all the time there once we’re not caught up within the thoughts. It’s all the time there. That’s our pure state. That’s our fundamental nature, simply spaciousness, and consciousness. Whole freedom and whole awakeness, and it’s solely the layers and veils and confusion and muck of the considering thoughts that will get in the way in which of that. However, after all, it may’t actually get in the way in which in the long term, as a result of even that, all that considering thoughts, is fabricated from nothing aside from this awake spaciousness. However, both method, we drop into that for only a second. Discover that spacious awakeness, after which we start to chant. So let’s try this collectively.
[chanting]
Superb. Now, feeling the vitality of chanting, that mantra radiating out by all of area, all of time, all the universe. Discovering no boundary, discovering no obstacle, discovering solely compassion, kindness, love, caring, pleasure. Spreading that to all sentient beings in every single place in your entire universe. Could everybody in every single place be completely satisfied. Could everybody in every single place be full of love. Could everybody in every single place be wholesome and robust. Could everybody in every single place have sufficient to eat and a lifetime of peace. Simply really feel that radiating out, radiating out the vitality of the mantra, simply radiating out in all instructions, and in addition radiating again into you, since you’re the recipient of that from everybody else additionally. Simply really feel that. Remaining in your pure state, remaining as simply large open, large awakeness, remaining utterly outdoors the considering thoughts.
And from right here, we simply change into noticing our considering thoughts. We’re not participating with the ideas in any respect, we’re simply noticing what I name the thought exercise, the effervescent up of a thought. And we simply discover it. Now, for some individuals, that is the standard sound kind considering, psychological speak—blah blah blah—for others, it’s psychological photos effervescent up after which fading away. For some it’s a mix of each psychological speak and psychological photos effervescent up and fading away, however after all we’re not being attentive to any of that content material in any respect. We’re simply noticing that it’s effervescent up after which fading away, after which effervescent up after which fading away once more.
Okay. Now, for a few of us, once we actually are noticing thought exercise, we’re not likely encountering it a lot as phrases and photos—though that’s there, it’s not that it’s not there—however a few of us really feel the thought exercise as virtually like a present or of a effervescent up of physique sensation or one thing like that. We are saying the vitality of thought, and it’s not one thing I’m attempting to get you to note, I’m simply conscious that some individuals expertise it that method. I definitely expertise it that method usually, and so, whether or not it’s a stream of photos, or a stream of psychological speak, or each, or a stream of vitality, like a stream of physique sensation, or bubbles developing, no matter it looks like, or is skilled like for you, simply be the awake area wherein that thought bubbles up. And keep in mind, to be the awake area, just isn’t one thing you must attempt to do. It’s there routinely for you, it’s simply that you just don’t get entangled within the considering— that’s all it requires. While you’re not concerned within the considering, then you definitely’re current in area.
Okay, now, if that is too arduous. If thought is so sticky, even after the mantra. If thought is so sticky that you just simply can’t detach from it sufficient to observe it on this method, then simply observe the breath. However we’re nonetheless doing it, we’re nonetheless following it from awake area, as boundless, timeless, awakeness.
So, from boundless, timeless, awakeness, simply pay attention to thought exercise. We would say the effervescent and churning and stream of thought itself, with out getting engaged in it in any respect. We’re not attempting to cease the stream of thought, we’re not attempting to alter the stream of thought, we’re not attempting to interrupt it, or by some means make it go away, or divert it, or something like that. You’re simply letting it’s precisely the way in which it usually is, however you’re watching it, and by watching, I imply, nonetheless it’s developing for you, you’re simply conscious of it. So that you’re resting as awake area, which, once more, keep in mind, is one thing that simply occurs while you’re not concerned in thought. Letting the ideas bubble up and move, and bubble up and move. It’s similar to the expression of the second, this fountain, this, burbling, gurgling, fountain of thought. So I’ll be quiet now for some time, and we’ll simply do that collectively.
Let’s hold going with that, remembering it’s fairly simple to get caught up in thought, as a result of we have a tendency to try this all day lengthy. So don’t give your self a tough time about it. Simply anytime you discover that you just’re again contained in the equipment of thought, you’re again grinding on it, simply let it go, let it go, and are available again to only resting as awake area. Simply resting as awake area. And you’ll have to try this time and again and over—and that’s utterly advantageous. Do not forget that we’re not attempting to by some means witness the thought or be separate from the thought. The thought is arising inside awake area, and so we’re simply conscious of it. Simply conscious of it, observing its stream however not getting concerned within the content material in any respect. Let’s proceed. We’re going to do that for some time, so simply hold going.
Okay. Superb. Now we’ll go somewhat deeper with this. As a substitute of merely observing the thought exercise, being with it, I would like you to note specifically its flow-like nature. It’s flux nature. The truth that it retains transferring and altering, and transferring and altering. The truth that it’s by no means nonetheless. It doesn’t sit there. It simply burbles and gurgles and flows alongside, and is completely, completely, transient. It arises and passes, and arises and passes, and arises and passes. So we’re in search of this specific impermanent high quality within the ideas now. Don’t slim down. Keep in your nature is awake area, however simply discover somewhat extra significantly—simply with somewhat extra consideration on the thought—simply discover its steady altering nature. Let’s tune into that once more for a couple of minutes collectively.
Okay, good. Now to take this somewhat deeper, start to note the place the ideas are coming from. So we’ve been watching them come up after which move, and come up after which move, now let’s look particularly, the place do they come up from? From the place did they come up? Trace: it received’t be any specific location. Even when typically it looks as if there’s a location, then different ideas will come up in different components. So simply attempt to look into the place ideas come from. The place do they arrive from? This stream of thought exercise—whence does it come up? Let’s look.
Do not forget that we’re doing this phenomenologically. It’s not an concept—nicely, they arrive from my mind—not like that in any respect. You’re attempting to note in your expertise the place you expertise them as arising from.
Trace: it’s not that we’re going to discover a location. The ideas don’t actually come from any specific location. However while you look, or sense into, or really feel into, or discover, the place they’re coming from, what do you discover? The place are they coming from? That begins to get fairly attention-grabbing.
Let’s watch the opposite finish of it. So, we have been watching them come up and move, after which we have been taking a look at the place they arose from. Now, let’s discover the place they move to. The place do they go once they’re achieved, and the ideas vanish? Into what do they vanish? Let’s watch the vanishing of every thought, or pay attention, or really feel into, or discover, the vanishing of thought. Once more, we’re by no means getting concerned within the content material, we’re simply—blah blah blah blah blah blah—the tip of every stream of thought, watch the place it goes. Don’t deliberately make thought simply so you’ve one thing to look at. If nothing’s taking place, simply sit there as area, then when the thought arises, watch the place it goes. There is usually a tendency right here to attempt to form of watch it carefully, and also you begin to tighten up, so keep in mind to remain relaxed, keep large open. Simply observe in an off-the-cuff method.
Okay, good. Now, I would like you to, with the arising of every thought, look into—once more, experientially, not as an idea, not as an concept, however experientially—into who or what’s considering the thought? Discover the supply of the thought. Who’s considering it? So, as every thought arises—right here comes this exercise—simply go look again at who’s considering it. And the reply just isn’t an concept, like me, or my mind. You’re trying, you’re experiencing, what’s the supply of the thought.
Okay, good. Now, you’ll have observed that the place, or the area the ideas are coming from is similar because the place, or the area, that they’re going to once they’re achieved. And that very same factor is what’s considering the ideas. It’s the awake area itself, not as a thinker, however because the supply of the thinker, as a result of the awake area is the supply of every little thing.
So, now, no matter that area is—that awake area beneath or round or inside—no matter phrase you need to use—as a substitute of taking a look at thought now, let go of thought solely, and simply relaxation as awake area itself. Now, it might proceed to generate ideas, and issues might proceed to occur, after all, however we simply relaxation because the awake area itself, which requires no doing of any form. As quickly as there’s doing, then you definitely’re in thought, so drop out of all doing, and simply relaxation as awake area itself, which is your pure state. There’s nothing it’s worthwhile to do, simply anytime you begin to get entangled in something, simply let go, come again.
If it’s, for no matter motive, too difficult, return to only working with the ideas. Like seeing from the place they come up, or noticing the place they go to. However, on the whole, we simply do that as the following step. We simply let go of being attentive to ideas solely once more, not even the exercise of thought, and we simply relaxation because the wakefulness itself, awake, and but not doing something in any respect. Not even meditating, simply sitting as our personal pure awakeness, our personal, already current readability, and large open consciousness.
Resting as awake area, recognizing that the stillness of awake area, and the motion of thought, are by no means separate. They all the time come up collectively, as does the stillness of awake area, and the motion of emotion, and the stillness of awake area, and all of the motion of the world, all the actions of our thoughts and physique, and even of the world round us, the opposite individuals, the vehicles, airplanes, birds, wolverines—particularly wolverines—within the tiger satellites, moons, stars, suns, all co-arising with awake area. By no means separate, all inside us, inside awakeness, inside being. A form of reflection, a form of present, however an exuberant, lovely, significant, present, that’s all the time taking part in out on the display screen, so to talk, of awakeness itself. Which is what we actually are—though it’s not a factor. So with that allow’s carry the meditation to a detailed.
Very good to sit down with you tonight. The solar set right here whereas we have been doing that, so now it truly is tonight. Thanks for meditating with me. Simply really feel how we aren’t our ideas. That doesn’t imply ideas are dangerous, or flawed. Ideas are what come up within the awakeness. They’re simply as pure, simply as lovely, simply as contemporary and clear and clear as anything. Feelings, too. No matter feelings—troublesome feelings, lovely feelings, something emotional, simply arises because the pure, lovely, pristine, expression of awake area itself. Inside area, permeated by area, not separate from area, ever.
Once more, we’re speaking about awake area. The being that we think about ourselves to be—the being of thought and feeling and physique sensations—consists of nothing aside from awakeness. It’s composed of nothing aside from the supply of being, the groundless floor of being, burgeoning forth with an exuberant show. But when we needed to level at what we’re, so to talk, it’s that awake area, rather more than the sock puppet being, rather more than the looks being that’s mirrored within the mirror.
And but, our minds are all the time drawn again, again and again, to the reflections within the mirror, as a result of we’re simply all caught up in that. However once we meditate, like we did tonight, we discover—it’s virtually similar to a half-silvered mirror we begin to see by and do not forget that what we’re is what’s beneath the mirror, so to talk. A horrible metaphor, nevertheless it’s the one I’ve received: What’s beneath the mirror, that open awakeness, the area itself, the boundless, timeless, centerless, being itself. So there’s nothing we have to do to be that. We already are that. It’s solely the ruminations of the thoughts that make us really feel like we should do that, we should try this, we’ve to unravel this, and heal that, and recover from this, and try this, earlier than we are able to relaxation as awake consciousness itself. However truly, we all the time are awakeness. We all the time have been awake consciousness we all the time might be awake consciousness. So simply let go, and relaxation as awakeness itself.
Okay, subsequent week I’ll be coming to you reside from the Alembic, so I’ll see you then. Within the meantime, a lot love, numerous peace, concord, pleasure, magnificence. And actually really feel that awakeness. I’ll see you quickly.
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