Guided Nondual Meditation with Michael Taft
Streamed reside on Feb 17, 2022
Introduction: The Chaos Begins
Properly my hair’s tousled and the web is tousled and every part’s tousled and but right here we go! We’re reside and we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna do it tousled. So, hopefully your life is much less chaotic than mine is in the mean time, simply this afternoon. However possibly it’s not, possibly you’re feeling chaos too and we’re gonna work with that, proper? That’s all wonderful. Let me simply see if I can get this video set a bit bit extra the best way I need it to be and we’ll work from there.
All proper, so no matter sort of being you’re, for those who’re watching this you’re in all probability in a sentient being of some kind in a single samsara or one other and so chaos and upset and issues not being the best way you need them to be; issues being possibly the best way you need them to be, however now you’re apprehensive about hanging on to them the best way you need them to be… and so forth.
You understand stuff occurs, and as an enormous a part of this fashion that we’re studying right here, the best way that I’m presenting meditation teachings, is that we’re noticing our already current Buddhahood, our liberated elements. And it’s humorous , as a instructor I discuss to folks, numerous folks, day by day about their meditation apply, day by day for many years now, proper? A protracted, very long time. And one of many major issues I hear with people who find themselves good at meditation is, like, “I… every part’s going good however I believe I’m going to again up and work on my focus. I wish to work on my focus to get issues extra steady.” And naturally, this can be a superb factor.
Focus is nice, it actually helps and that temper of like, “I’m gonna return to fundamentals and get my focus collectively,” that’s a great temper – nothing improper with that. However as you’ll be able to guess I’m going to say, however, however truly it won’t be an important factor. It won’t be an important factor. What’s an important factor? Properly, focus is vital, however what’s much more vital? Properly, we would say love or caring and kindness and compassion, and that’s true. That’s no less than equally vital to focus and but even love and compassion and kindness; we may speak about that as having a facet of equanimity in it, and that’s what I might say is much more vital than getting your focus collectively is getting your equanimity collectively.
So tonight we’re going to work on equanimity, okay? As a result of it, , if you concentrate on what you may want out of your apply one of many major issues folks need is, , for all the issues to go away. However guess what? That is samsara, so so long as you’re in a physique, so long as you’re right here issues by no means go away. It’s not such as you’re going to succeed in some place the place you by no means get sick and the world isn’t fucked up and your hair isn’t tousled and issues are out of order and every part’s breaking. That’s simply the character of this place and regardless of how awake you get, regardless of how liberated, it stays that manner as a result of that’s the character of this place; that is the saha world, that is what it’s like. And so even your absolutely liberated Buddha-self doesn’t change that, however what it does change is the way you relate to it and the way you relate whenever you relate to it in a sure manner of openness; in a sure manner of feeling like every part’s okay at the same time as screwed up as it’s. And also you’re not checked out, you’re not checked out into some sort of dissociative state, or bypassing however relatively you’re actually with the stuff, understanding how screwed up it’s, understanding how chaotic it’s, understanding how tousled your hair is, or no matter, you’re completely clear about that and but you’re okay with it. That’s known as equanimity, proper?
And give it some thought. Would you relatively have the power to pay attention rather well or the power that, it doesn’t matter what occurs, regardless of how screwed up every part will get, you could be—even when your feelings are screwed up—even whenever you’re full of rage or despair or no matter, the deepest a part of you is simply okay? The whole lot’s okay. Would you relatively have that or would you relatively have good focus? I might go for the primary one, proper? That’s equanimity, that’s like the true Buddha nature coming ahead, proper? I can work with this, there’s sufficient room, there’s sufficient house, there’s sufficient love, there’s sufficient compassion. That every part’s okay, even when it… on the relative stage, on the samsaric stage, it’s actually not okay. Some deep a part of you continues to be cool with even the best way you’re freaking out proper now. In order that’s equanimity, proper? It doesn’t imply that you simply all the time really feel peaceable and your thoughts is all the time full of lovely ideas. Equanimity is when even when your thoughts is full of chaos and rage and despair and your feelings are far and wide, this deep a part of you continues to be okay, proper? That’s actual equanimity and that’s what we’re gonna work on.
Meditation
So let’s arrange our meditation and naturally as traditional we’re going to start out with some focus stuff; some samadhi apply, some shamatha apply. However, I need you to consider it as simply sort of settling the waters, we’re getting within the groove, we’re letting every part sort of–I don’t like translating shamatha as focus anyway–I like translating it as, , amassing collectively, as gathering, as integrating, as grounding, like that.
So sit in your meditation posture and, I haven’t stated this in a very long time, so I’ll simply remind you that in this hour-long meditation I need you to be nonetheless. Don’t transfer, don’t transfer your physique, be actually, actually nonetheless. You’ll see me ingesting my tea and so forth and that’s as a result of I’ve to speak and I’ve to work with a pc so I’m transferring a bit bit, however after I meditate I don’t transfer in any respect and I need you to additionally be taught to sit down nonetheless for an hour, okay?
So bear in mind, we’re getting in a posture the place we really feel good, we are able to lay on our backs so long as your decrease again is flat on the ground along with your knees up, or for those who’re sitting you need your knees to be decrease than your hips and so your decrease again has bought that good little curve in it and it makes your head pop up. Nevertheless it’s like a sort of actually light, very easy, essentially the most easy doable erect backbone. So simply discover that spot once more, it’s a lot simpler along with your knees decrease than your hips – that spot the place your backbone stays good and upright with simply the minimal effort. You’re not placing in numerous muscle to maintain it upright. In case you are will probably be actually onerous to remain within the posture however for those who sit correctly you’ll discover your again simply stays upright and it’d sort of wiggle like a sapling in a mild breeze, nevertheless it’s very straightforward to remain upright and it makes the highest of your head – the very best spot in your head – sort of elevate up, your chin tucks a bit bit.
Your shoulders and arms are completely relaxed, completely relaxed. Often we’re gonna allow them to relaxation in our lap like this [demonstrates Dhyana mudra] however you could possibly even have them in your knees – resting in your thighs both palms down or palms up [demonstrates palms up and down with thumb and index finger touching to form circle] however they’re resting on the thighs.
You’ll see in clip artwork the place individuals are meditating with their elbows on their knees and their fingers up within the air and it appears to be like actually cool for {a photograph} nevertheless it’s a very dumb approach to meditate, so by no means meditate like that!
Have your arms resting in your thighs, and so from there I need you to only tune in to what it’s wish to be you proper now. Simply examine in with your self, every part that’s happening, every part you’re feeling, every part you’re pondering, how your physique feels, how your feelings really feel, simply what’s the overall climate report? And, regardless of the climate report is, I need you to simply be okay with it. You understand, like, “okay, that is the climate report proper now, we’re not likely going to alter that.” So simply tune in for a minute, do this for me.
Okay. Good, now what I need you to do is simply sit and breathe, you’ll be able to breathe naturally and usually, don’t change your breath this week however I need you to meditate now like an ocean. Okay, it’s an enormous, massive ocean, very deep. There could also be numerous waves on the floor however in comparison with how deep that ocean is the waves don’t even hassle it. And so that you’re simply this huge huge ocean, all fluidity, it’s very comfy being the ocean. Keep in mind final week once we did the 5 aspect meditation? Water is comfy, it’s ‘flowey’, it’s fluid, it feels good, it doesn’t resist, proper? So really feel that basically fluid, yummy facet of being this huge, huge, huge ocean but additionally discover that ideas going by, feelings going by – all that are simply rippling waves on the floor of the ocean within the deep, deep, deep water of the ocean. It’s simply very nonetheless and really calm and feels nice, okay?
So tune into being an ocean and then you definitely’re simply noticing the wave of the breath passing on the floor of the ocean and the ocean is simply noticing that breath-wave transferring by means of it, okay? And that’s how I’m going to have you ever meditate for the subsequent short time right here, so let’s get going with that.
Keep in mind, you’re only a huge ocean. It’s so massive, the ocean is so large and so deep you’ll be able to’t even discover the underside, you’ll be able to’t discover the shore. It’s simply an infinite ocean and the waves are transferring on the very floor of the ocean however the ocean itself is so deep and so large that the waves don’t disturb it in any manner. And certainly one of these waves is simply the breath-wave coming and going, coming and going and we’re hanging with that breath-wave, we’re noticing it coming and going and I need you to significantly discover when the in-breath involves an finish, when the out-breath involves an finish. Put a bit additional consideration on that and simply enable these waves to come back and go with out interference, however actually noticing them.
Good, in order that’s just a bit little bit of shamatha to sort of collect our energies, to sort of accumulate the thoughts right into a extra steady place, a barely extra steady place. Simply sort of like shifting from the common day into our meditation a bit bit.
And so now persevering with to meditate like an ocean, your huge, huge, huge ocean. There aren’t even any shores anyplace, there’s no backside, it’s only a huge ocean; extremely huge ocean of consciousness. And now what I need you to meditate on are simply the ripples, not simply the breath however ripples of thought transferring throughout the ocean, ripples of emotion transferring throughout the ocean; the movement of emotion transferring throughout the ocean. And any physique sensations transferring, rippling throughout the ocean – discover that these are really occurring – they’re transferring throughout the floor, they’re rippling, possibly in several instructions and all that., however in comparison with the vastness of this infinite ocean of consciousness they’re fully minor. There’s a lot room for all
this thought, there’s a lot room for all this emotion, there’s all a lot room for all these physique sensations, there’s a lot room for the sound or photos which can be happening on this planet that basically these ripples don’t hassle this huge ocean in any respect. It’s like a drop in a bucket, it simply doesn’t disturb the deep peace of this ocean of consciousness.
Okay, so I need you to only truly concentrate on the ripples, concentrate on the pondering with out attempting to alter it, with out getting concerned in it however actually noticing it occurring. Give attention to the feelings which can be transferring by means of the physique, concentrate on the sensations. In different phrases, every part that’s arising, you’re taking note of it, you’re not ignoring it or pretending it’s not there. You’re not attempting to alter it, you’re not attempting to regulate it however neither are you uninvolved – you’re truly paying consideration. This ocean of consciousness is conscious so it’s conscious of those ripples however I need you to note that they’re identical to wind within the sky, they’re simply ripples transferring by means of an enormous infinite ocean and so they don’t disturb the deep peace of the deep ocean in any respect.
So tune into that now.
These ideas, these feelings, these physique sensations, the sounds and sights of the world and every part else – smells, no matter, tastes – they’re all simply these ripples on the floor of this huge ocean of consciousness and they don’t hassle it in any manner. They don’t have to be modified, they don’t have to be managed, they’re completely lovely easy arisings that go over the floor of the ocean and don’t disturb the deep ocean in any manner.
What sort of apply is that this? That is vacancy apply, proper? It’s simply one other manner of doing it. So that is vacancy apply, we’re not ignoring the waves, we’re absolutely conscious of the ideas, absolutely conscious of the sentiments, absolutely conscious of the arising of every part and but on the similar time we discover that it’s completely, completely not disturbing the deep peace of consciousness and on the similar time it’s not completely different than consciousness, proper? So simply let these ripples transfer throughout the ocean of consciousness and we’re very conscious of every ripple and but noticing that it doesn’t disturb the peace in any manner.
Okay good, now remaining as a huge ocean of consciousness, boundless ocean of consciousness. There’s no shore, there’s no backside, it’s simply an infinite ocean of consciousness; ‘flowey’, comfy, comfortable, undisturbed by something.
Now let go of the vipashyana apply, the vacancy apply, and as an alternative simply relaxation because the ocean. The waves are nonetheless there, there’s nonetheless ideas, there’s nonetheless emotions. There’s nonetheless – the entire world is arising in consciousness – in fact, however we’re not partaking with any of it.
Simply present the attention to itself, let consciousness concentrate on consciousness – that’s it – and spot that it’s easy as a result of consciousness is already conscious.
So, in different phrases, we’re doing dropping the ball. So anytime you become involved with one of many ripples on the floor of the ocean you simply let go and sink again into the deep ocean which is completely awake, completely conscious, completely relaxed; boundless, huge awakeness with none effort. Every time you become involved simply let go and are available again to resting because the ocean of consciousness with none effort.
If there’s any sense that one thing, , massive goes to occur right here otherwise you’re ready for one thing to occur, let go of that fully. That is fantastic, that is consciousness resting as consciousness, that is resting within the true state, proper? Simply consciousness conscious of itself, completely undisturbed and uninvolved. With any ripples, any ideas which can be arising, you’re simply not partaking them in any respect. Any emotions which can be arising, not partaking them in any respect. They’re nonetheless there, they’re ripples on the ocean, however that is the deep ocean simply conscious of itself.
Now you may discover your ideas getting actually confused or chances are you’ll even really feel like ripples or waves of confusion are on the ocean, that’s okay. The water of the deep ocean of consciousness is all the time completely clear. If the ideas get jumbled or confused, that’s wonderful, it doesn’t make consciousness confused. Otherwise you may really feel waves of, like, fatigue. You may immediately really feel such as you’re drifting or falling asleep, these are simply waves on the ocean. Consciousness itself, the attention of the deep ocean is brilliant and clear and wakeful; brilliant and clear and wakeful. So the ripples of fatigue are simply… once more, these are physique sensations and so forth, they’re not something we’re concerned with. So that you may really feel confusion otherwise you may really feel fatigued, you may really feel bored like waves of boredom, , like “when’s this going to finish?” Once more, that’s all simply ripples. The huge ocean of consciousness is evident and brilliant and undisturbed and it feels so good to only relaxation in itself. It simply rests in itself, conscious of itself, by itself. Anytime it begins to become involved with ideas or emotions it simply relaxes again into being this huge, boundless ocean.
Discover that even the sense of doing a meditation is only a ripple on the floor of this infinite ocean of consciousness that’s not disturbed by something. Even the sense of being any individual doing one thing is only a ripple on the ocean that doesn’t disturb the ocean in any manner. Even the sense that one thing’s imagined to occur, or something like that, it’s all simply vanishing ripples on the floor of the ocean. The deep, deep boundless waters of the ocean of consciousness are usually not disturbed by that in any manner. They’re completely nonetheless, completely clear, completely brilliant and wakeful with none disturbance of any variety. The waves come and go and the ocean just isn’t disturbed.
The huge ocean of consciousness doesn’t come and go. The huge ocean of consciousness just isn’t one thing you’ll be able to create or strengthen or greater or clearer, it’s all the time been there, it should all the time be there. The huge ocean of consciousness is brilliant and clear underneath all circumstances and it’s not bothered by something. That is the which means of equanimity, the huge notion of consciousness is peace, is stillness, is equanimity. Even with all of the ripples on the floor it’s not disturbed.
For thus lengthy you’ve thought you’re the ideas and emotions of the ripples on the floor, however for those who’re something in any respect you’re this deep ocean of consciousness that may be conscious of these ripples typically however proper now could be simply conscious of its nature as peace and stillness and wakefulness, undisturbed by something.
Now, this huge ocean of consciousness merely resting in itself, conscious of itself. From this place we’re going to shift, and we’re going to shift into feeling pleasure for all beings all over the place, feeling love for all beings all over the place, feeling great kindness in direction of all beings all over the place and streaming that out – this ocean goes all over the place.
So large waves of affection and pleasure and desires for well being and energy, all rippling out, rippling out, rippling out, rippling out to all beings all over the place! A sense of great vitality and vitality rippling out in direction of all beings all over the place. A sense of friendliness and togetherness and belonging and sibling-hood, brotherhood and sisterhood and being-hood rippling out to all beings all over the place.
Large pleasure, great kindness, great well being and therapeutic. Large sense of belonging and friendliness and friendship and together-hood, rippling out in direction of all beings all over the place. Actually really feel that basically strongly, spreading out in all instructions, reaching all beings all over the place within the multiverse.
Okay? Good now let’s finish this session of meditation.
Dharma Discuss
Permitting your physique to maneuver finally after an hour. Permitting your self to maneuver and stretch and permit your physique to really feel good. You may wiggle your fingers and toes, wiggle your ears, no matter is enjoyable and amusing so that you can get that physique transferring once more. Permitting your physique to really feel good, have a drink of water or no matter.
However in fact, the huge ocean of consciousness doesn’t change, it was not one thing you have been creating with the meditation, it’s not one thing that you simply domesticate, it’s not one thing that you simply make occur. It’s all the time there, it’s what you’re, it’s your nature. And so even once we cease the meditation apply, it’s nonetheless there. The huge ocean of consciousness that’s undisturbed by something is all the time there. Now, once we’re extremely recognized as ideas and emotions, as feelings, my valuable feelings, my vital feelings, my feelings, my feelings; how I react to every part is so delicate and so vital. Once we’re extremely, extremely recognized with that we get actually caught up and we get tight and we get knocked round.
It’s like we’re a bit bobber, proper? You understand what a bobber is? Like for those who’ve been fishing—a fishing bobber or like a cork—you’re only a cork being whipped round on the waves.
Identical factor for those who’re all caught up in your ideas, “oh, every part is simply my thoughts, I’m simply my ideas. If I’m having unhealthy ideas I’m so recognized with these and so they’re so actual and concrete that I am unhealthy ideas.”
From having nice ideas, “oh, that is one of the best factor on this planet, now I’m nice ideas. Oh, I want to hold onto that.”
Once more, you’re only a cork or a bobber being whipped round on these waves. And you are able to do this as a result of the waves are usually not separate from the ocean. Consciousness is someway not completely different than thought, completely different than emotion. Ideas and feelings are manufactured from consciousness, proper? So you’ll be able to zero in on these and fake that that’s who or what you’re. And that’s what we’re educated to do all through the course of our lives and so we’re sort of educated into being whipped round on these waves.
However for each minute of our life, each second you’re alive, what’s actually there’s this infinite huge ocean of consciousness which is, in fact, empty.
Similar to every part else, it’s not a factor, that is simply a picture. However consciousness, this huge ocean of consciousness is all the time there and whenever you let go of being recognized with these ideas and tightly gripped onto them, and so they’re so actual and so vital, and also you let go of being tightly gripped within the feelings and hanging on to them and also you’re attempting to control and management them, “I wish to really feel these good feelings and that i don’t wish to really feel these unhealthy feelings.” If you’re caught up like that, once we’re caught in these ideas and emotions we get knocked round, proper? It’s the other of equanimity, the ups and downs are tremendous intense and actually vital and we’re all the time struggling in opposition to them and it’s all the time an issue.
However the fact is, once more, what – if we’re something in any respect, proper? We’re additionally this huge ocean of consciousness that’s by no means disturbed by something. There’s no want to regulate or deny or suppress the pondering, and even make it good. There’s no want to regulate or deny or suppress the feelings or to attempt to solely have good feelings. None of that’s vital as a result of the huge ocean of consciousness is completely wonderful with no matter arises, it’s completely accepting with no matter arises, it’s completely undisturbed with no matter arises, it can’t be bothered by something that arises. It’s not like you’ll be able to have a thought that’s so unhealthy it should simply evaporate the ocean. It’s not like you’ll be able to have an emotion that’s so unhealthy it may freeze the entire ocean. Plainly manner for those who’re actually tightly hooked into these ideas and emotions however that’s not what actually occurs; the huge ocean of consciousness stays brilliant and clear and awake and undisturbed by something it doesn’t matter what.
So once more, even when the ideas and emotions are tremendous disturbed, so it’s not someway like attempting to make it so – the type of – I don’t know, I’ll simply use this actually ‘judgy’ phrase, okay? I’m gonna be actually judgmental and say the actually immature mind-set about your non secular practices, “oh, after I get good at this meditation I’ll be even by means of every part and this evenness by, , every part shall be cool and nothing will disturb me.” However what we imply by that, in an immature manner, is my ideas and emotions will stay undisturbed, proper? The ideas and emotions that I believe I’m shall be easy crusing… However that’s not what it’s like in any respect. That’s not what’s and if it’s beginning to get that manner – certain okay your ideas and emotions are a bit smoother wonderful – however for those who want them to be easy like that your apply goes backwards, you’re simply getting extra inflexible and extra caught in thought and feeling and attempting to regulate it and make it easy. “Oh yeah, when actually unhealthy issues occur which can be horrible I’m simply easy, my ideas and emotions are easy. When actually fantastic issues occur, oh, my ideas and emotions are simply easy.” That’s known as being lifeless, proper? Or being checked out, being numb, being dissociated. Being… You understand, that may occur, typically a bit bit, but when that’s your regular state – you’re completely misplaced, okay? That’s, that’s not what we’re doing right here. That may be a very immature view of apply. I’m utilizing a ‘judgy’ phrase – cope with it.
The mature view is kind of completely different, it’s that ideas and emotions could be as loud as they need, they are often as upset as they need, they are often as offended or stuffed with despair, so unhappy, or as fearful as they need or ideas could be actually darkish or actually terrible. Or all of these issues could be fantastic, you could be full of pleasure and happiness. And regardless of. That doesn’t have an effect on this consciousness by which all these issues are occurring, it doesn’t have an effect on it in any respect.
Now that’s, that’s a really completely different view. That may be a very completely different view, okay? And also you say, “Properly, how do I discover this consciousness?” Properly, how are you aware you’re having a thought proper now? One thing’s – I imply it’s not a factor – however one thing’s conscious of the pondering. Discover I stated, conscious. One thing’s conscious of the pondering, that consciousness is the attention. How are you aware you’re having an enormous emotion or any emotion? Properly, you’re having an emotion since you’re conscious of it, that’s the attention.
Consciousness is going on on a regular basis, that’s how you’re alive, that’s how you’re having a thought, that’s how you’re having a sense. So get this, the ideas are altering on a regular basis however you’re constantly conscious of them, the attention is all the time there. The emotions are altering on a regular basis however you’re constantly conscious of them. The notice is all the time there. You’re transferring your head around the globe, the imaginative and prescient of the world is altering on a regular basis however the consciousness is all the time there. Sounds are coming in your ears on a regular basis and so they’re all the time completely different, but the attention is all the time there. It’s not possible to cease being conscious.
Okay, the attention is all the time there. There could also be sure particular states by which consciousness blips out for durations of time however even then I might contend that there’s a deep, deep, deep consciousness of what’s happening.
The notice is all the time current, so in different phrases ideas and emotions on this planet will all the time change, they are often massive and small and we’re not attempting to alter that. Slightly, we’re simply resting on this brilliant, clear—I’m completely nonetheless—consciousness that’s the foundation of every part, proper? It’s not separate than ideas and emotions however relatively it’s the floor out of which ideas and emotions come up. Similar to ideas come out of the waves, come out of the ocean. And it’s additionally the bottom to which ideas and emotions return, identical to waves return into being the ocean, okay?
So the best way I’m speaking about this you can begin to really feel like consciousness is a factor and I’m calling it an ocean and an ocean is a factor. However, consciousness itself just isn’t a factor and so don’t make it right into a factor, like “oh I’m over right here that factor known as consciousness.” Don’t do this. Consciousness is conscious of itself by itself, it doesn’t want somebody to face outdoors it and fake to take a look at it. Who’s doing the trying? Consciousness is doing the trying. In order that entire transfer of standing outdoors it and really feel such as you’re consciousness? That’s not it. Don’t make it right into a factor, it’s not a factor. It’s simply conscious, okay?
So that is the equanimity I’m speaking about and this equanimity is already there – I’m going to sneeze dangle on. Am I going to sneeze? It’s virtually there, it’s virtually there. Perhaps not, I’ll put the… oh possibly, oh I can’t inform. Properly, that occurs, it occurs. I misplaced my practice of thought… the practice of thought is that – the attention, the equanimity is all the time there.
The equanimity is the premise of your being. And so we’re not someway cultivating this stillness or constructing equanimity like we’re build up cash in a checking account or one thing. The equanimity is infinite and it’s already there. And also you simply chill out, you simply return, you simply acknowledge this consciousness and this equanimity that’s already current. And when you acknowledge it, you simply relaxation. That’s it. Acknowledge the attention that’s already there and relaxation. Acknowledge the equanimity that’s already there and relaxation and for those who get caught up within the waves, simply the minute you discover that, acknowledge and simply come again to being the ocean of equanimity that’s all the time there and simply relaxation. The waves do themselves, thought and emotions do themselves, taking motion on this planet does itself. It does itself, consciousness merely notices, with none effort.
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