The Burning Hearth of Consciousness

Nondual Guided Meditation with Michael Taft

Okay, so let’s start. I need you to easily verify in with your self, ask your self the query; what’s it prefer to be me proper now? And by me, I imply you. And simply tune in to your thoughts, your physique, your feelings, all that and simply see what it’s like. Sort of a unadorned noticing, not an analysis however simply extra of, oh yeah, that’s what’s occurring. And no matter it’s like, whether or not it’s nice or disagreeable, chaotic or clean, painful, pleasurable, impartial, no matter, merely settle for that scenario, that state, that climate report precisely the way in which it’s and let or not it’s precisely that. Nonetheless it’s, is good.

Good, now in a really reductive, simplified means of speaking about it, the meditation we’re doing is extra about openness and fewer about constrictedness. So openness within the thoughts is essential, simply feeling that sense of spaciousness, openness, rest within the thoughts and the analog for that’s simply openness and rest within the physique. So let’s do some shamatha right here. Remembering that we’re staying good and nonetheless, not transferring and also you’re merely following your breath in a really open means. We’re gonna calm down the physique for some time right here simply to get into that embodied spaciousness. 

So along with your consciousness, your consideration very broad, very, very broad simply discover the breath rising and falling, not targeted on the breath you’re not narrowly attending to the breath, merely noticing that it rises and falls, rises and falls. That takes no further consideration in any respect. It’s merely as we sit we discover the rising and falling of the breath whereas the thoughts consciousness stays good and vast, good and open, broad expansive prefer it naturally is. So bear in mind it’s not an effort, it’s not some type of pushing effortful exertion to make consciousness broad. Consciousness is broad with out us making an attempt. Forcing consciousness to be slender consideration takes effort however permitting it to simply be naturally broad, naturally spacious, that’s simply enjoyable. So simply let or not it’s broad and spacious.

And it notices the rising and falling of the breath, the rising and falling of the breath.

So let’s do this for a couple of minutes after which I’ll start doing a guided rest of the physique together with it in order that our physique turns into increasingly expansive.

Now with the attention very broad, very open, very relaxed, and noticing the rising and falling of the breath very naturally simply start to note the releasing of any rigidity in your head and face. We’re not transferring in any respect, not stretching, not forcing any muscle exercise, we’re simply enjoyable. Fairly often once I counsel that we let go of rigidity individuals deal with the strain and attempt to battle with it as a substitute what we do is just discover any half that feels relaxed and open up into that.

Let the comfort simply really feel good and type of develop and that naturally, with out very a lot effort, simply permits the strain within the face, the top, the eyes, the cheeks, the lips, the mouth space to simply drain away. And as a substitute, a sense of, type of, slack, heat launch, and openness enters the top and face. Any mounted expression releases, any tightness within the mouth simply releases, any rigidity within the jaw simply let’s go in order that your higher and decrease tooth are now not touching. and then you definately simply really feel into how nice that rest feels. And the rising and falling of the breath simply appears to open that up even additional. And spot now that rigidity is draining out of your neck and throat and shoulders. 

That muscle, that for those who tighten it makes your voice a little bit larger, relaxes. And it’s as in case your voice goes deeper, that muscle simply releases, your neck turns into tender and supple, and your shoulders let go. It’s an actual feeling of openness and ease and reduction, not solely by way of the top and face, however now by way of the neck, the throat, the shoulders. Don’t battle with something, simply discover the half that’s already launched, already relaxed. It could really feel very impartial and that neutrality feels good. 

Persevering with to breathe on this very open relaxed method, noticing that consciousness stays vivid, consciousness stays clear and conscious. In reality, the extra relaxed we get, the extra awake consciousness turns into. And with this awakeness, we discover that the arms, the arms, and fingers all launch and calm down and let go. Arms come to an entire relaxation, so limp and a lot like noodles which you can’t transfer them anymore as a result of it will take rigidity to maneuver them. As a substitute, they’re simply totally unfastened, totally relaxed. You might even really feel the heat and tingling in your fingers of the elevated blood circulation as your wrists calm down and arms calm down. After which the shoulders, the muscle groups of your chest and higher again calm down and launch and open.

Really feel how good that feels, even the areas within the armpit area and even inside your higher chest all launch and calm down and let go. And as you discover the nice emotions in your face, your head, your throat, your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your arms, your higher chest–all so relaxed, all so launched–you merely and with none effort drop now extra deeply right into a state of wide-open rest and spaciousness, merely respiratory like wind transferring by way of an unlimited empty sky. Wind effortlessly blowing in an unlimited, open, empty sky, tremendously free, tremendously contemporary, totally clear and clear.

Now, noticing that rigidity is releasing from the diaphragm area, the diaphragm is enjoyable, softening, opening, making it a lot simpler to breathe freely. Stomach area is enjoyable and the kidney area in again opening, permitting you to breathe far more deeply, far more freely, far more pleasantly, much less impedance. Noticing how the spaciousness and openness of the thoughts is now turning into the spaciousness and openness of the physique, very pure, very straightforward, no large deal. And spot the pelvic area is enjoyable and opening, letting go. The hips are releasing, discovering freedom, letting go. After which the legs, too start to fully launch, the big muscle groups of the thighs, the knees, the calves, the shins, ankle joints releasing and opening, the toes, particularly the soles of your toes, opening. And the toes enjoyable so you may really really feel this heat and tingling of a lot larger blood circulation within the legs as they change into jello-like, tremendously relaxed, so relaxed that there’s simply no solution to transfer them anymore. Since you’d must tighten them as much as transfer them and in the event that they’re nonetheless tight sufficient to maneuver simply see for those who can let go just a bit additional in order that they really can’t transfer.

After which let that sensation of; so relaxed that motion is not possible, so relaxed that it will simply be an excessive amount of effort to attempt to transfer. Let that permeate your total physique in order that it’s simply totally like an enormous water balloon, completely settled into the underside of a bowl. Actually, actually, actually partially full water balloon that’s simply flopped with zero rigidity. And spot that feeling of zero rigidity permeating each a part of your physique now so deeply that it simply lets you merely and naturally categorical a type of elementary freedom by simply permitting each a part of your being to simply drop now into a good deeper sense of whole non-doing.

Consciousness simply noticing the breath transferring like a contemporary wind by way of pine timber within the mountains. And spot how this deep openness, this profound spacious feeling within the physique now feeds again into the thoughts, permitting the thoughts to simply soften. There’s no want to carry the thoughts collectively in any means. The thoughts simply falls aside, falls open, opens like a flower turning into the sky, completely clear sky of consciousness with no effort. Let’s sit as this clear sky of consciousness simply noticing the rising and falling breath for a short while collectively right here.

Now into this huge spacious sky of consciousness comes a seed of fireside and the hearth begins burning away the whole physique. The entire physique burns away, and burns away, and burns away, leaving solely ashes, white-gray ashes. After which, all feelings burn away. Any emotion catches on fireplace and burns away fully, leaving no hint.

After which, any thought within the thoughts bursts into flame and burns away with none hint, after which any sense of any boundary in any route, any constructing, any boundary, something in any route catches on fireplace, bursts into flame, roars, after which vanishes and not using a hint.

After which, any sense of time; the previous, the longer term, even the now, any sense of any time catches on fireplace, bursts into flame, after which burns away totally, leaving no hint. After which, any sense of evaluating or measuring or monitoring, judging bursts into flame, roars brightly, lighting the huge sky for a second after which vanishing and not using a single hint. Any urges of any form, any discomfort, any itches, any ache, something pleasurable all bursts into flame, and burns away fully leaving no hint of any form.

After which any sense of self, of me, of a location, or a historical past, or a persona burst into fireplace, burns powerfully, roaringly, ragingly, after which vanishes leaving no hint. After which, any sense of anyone doing something in any respect, any effort, any intention bursts into flame, flares brightly, after which vanishes leaving no hint.

All that’s left is vivid, clear, shining wakefulness with a way of huge ease, openness, and area. If you happen to’re feeling sleepy sit up open your eyes and proceed the meditation. Now all these items have burned away so we’re simply going to relaxation on this huge open area of consciousness with no objects of any form to seize onto remaining completely nonetheless the whole time. Anytime the thoughts tightens up in any means, grabs onto one thing, engages a thought, that simply immediately burns away and we drop again into simply huge openness, the openness so huge that it will probably typically, at first, be uncomfortable and even scary till you notice there’s no downside.

Simply let or not it’s vast open.

Discover that this huge spacious consciousness is completely nonetheless it by no means strikes, it’s by no means ruffled, totally nonetheless. It doesn’t have to deal with something, it’s already completely clear, completely awake, completely nonetheless with none object in any respect. No matter story you’re telling your self in your head proper now’s meaningless. Come again to simply awakeness with out hanging on to a thought object. Every time one thing arises within the sky of consciousness be what notices the arising. It doesn’t matter what it’s, possibly your entire meditation is nearly discomfort. That’s simply an arising. Be what is aware of the discomfort, be what notices it. If there’s a thought, be the attention that notices the thought. 

Discover how completely straightforward this meditation is just resting because the open consciousness you’ve all the time been, there’s actually nothing to do, it’s not possible to fail. Discover that there’s a type of pleasure on this openness, a type of enjoyment of the liberty and area.

It is likely to be delicate at first, however for those who tune into it you’ll discover there’s an amazing sense of pleasure, large sense of openness, and type of freedom in that openness that brings an actual sense of eager to share that, to offer that to others. And so permit that to essentially blaze forth proper now, actually open up in your coronary heart a fireplace of affection and kindness that burns away all cynicism, all doubt, all concern fireplace burns away that sulky, crappy a part of your self, the cynical, complaining, sarcastic half and as a substitute opens as much as that sky of simply kindness and laughter and peace and pleasure that radiates out the heat of this fireplace in all instructions. Really feel that fireplace burning away, burning away all crusty tight restrictions leaving no hint, burning away all ideas of our inadequacy or imperfection or incapacity and leaving no hint. Radiating out the heat of affection and kindness to others regardless of how imperfect and leaving no hint of sick will, no hint of judgment.

All that’s left is a radiant fireplace within the coronary heart, a burning fireplace that’s each sorrow for the world and love and kindness in direction of all beings

Om, gate gate para gate para sam gate bodhi swaha 

Om, gate gate para gate para sam gate bodhi swaha 

Om, gate gate para gate para sam gate bodhi swaha 

Okay. Good, now let go of the meditation.

Dharma Speak, Q&A

Noticing that nothing has modified once we cease. Our consciousness continues to be huge and spacious, completely relaxed and awake, and relatively than involving ourselves in all of the arisings, simply be what is aware of the arising. That’s it. We already are that however we simply observed that. 

In a technique of it, that is the best attainable factor, proper? We’re merely tuning into what we’ve all the time been since beginningless time. In different phrases, tuning into what we will’t assist however notice, can’t assist however discover we all the time are. So in a technique of it, there’s no extra apparent, no simpler attainable factor to do or to note. And in case that’s nonetheless not clear; be what notices. And since expertise is occurring, noticing is occurring already with out you doing something in any respect. 

In reality, attempt to flip off expertise proper now, give it your finest shot. Attempt to flip off consciousness for those who’re doing consciousness. If consciousness is a few type of exercise that you just’re making occur then cease doing it. Shut it off proper now. Discover that that may be a little bit laborious to do. You can do it, I imply with a chainsaw or one thing, I imply most likely, or possibly a momentary cessation for those who have been actually up for that but it surely’d nonetheless come again, nonetheless come again.

So discover, it’s not an exercise, it’s not one thing that you just’re with-effort making occur. Somewhat, it’s all the time there with none effort of any form. It’s taking place proper now. Oh look, it’s taking place once more, by no means stops taking place. And so what everybody retains specializing in is the stuff that’s taking place in consciousness, and making an attempt to alter one thing about that–like get actual targeted on some arising in consciousness and hold consideration on that constantly or no matter, which is cool. I imply I’ve finished plenty of that, we’ve all finished plenty of that however that’s not what we’re doing right here, actually. The arisings in consciousness are attention-grabbing, there’s nothing unsuitable with them, they’re cool, they’re stunning, and so on. however that’s not what we’re doing, you recognize? 

It’s like–there might be no matter arisings you need, that’s not the purpose–be what notices the arising. Listen, if you wish to put it that means, to the truth that you’re conscious of it in any respect which, when you concentrate on it, that’s a really completely different recreation. It looks as if only a variation on the sport but it surely’s a really completely different recreation, it requires no consideration in any respect. And actually, consideration virtually makes it more durable, it doesn’t actually but it surely virtually makes it more durable. As a result of the wakefulness, the attention, is there with or with out consideration and if we’re taking note of one thing that’s rising in consciousness and that’s doubtlessly type of, to place it in a humorous means, distracting us from the actual fact of the attention itself, which isn’t tense, it doesn’t take any tightening, it’s already there. It’s all the time been there. Consider some second in your life when it wasn’t there. You possibly can’t since you may solely bear in mind what was earlier than or after such a factor anyway. So all expertise is, in fact, expertise of consciousness. It’s like a tautology.

So we use typically particular states, we use consideration possibly to get in particular states as a result of it tends to often simplify what’s occurring within the thoughts a little bit bit, so there’s fewer arising, so we’re grabbing on to fewer arisings. That makes it simpler to note the noticing, the attention itself. Or possibly it raises our power to the purpose the place we will come out of grabbing onto issues and simply discover as a result of there’s such a behavior round grabbing onto all of the arisings that possibly our power wants to lift up a little bit bit to note the noticing.

There’s a complete bunch of causes that we would do particular focus workout routines at first, or visualizations at first, and even working psychologically at first, merely to make it simpler to do the best factor on this planet. And that is the paradox is that–as somebody who tries, with some measure of success typically, to point out individuals how to do that factor, it seems that describing it’s laborious as a result of we don’t speak about it as a society principally ever. We speak about arisings, that’s what we’re all in favour of–the stuff that’s within the consciousness. 

And so despite the fact that it’s like, okay, you’ve spent your entire life as a fish all the pieces within the water however now somebody’s saying no I need you to see the water and also you’ve simply by no means been, by no means finished that. And so it’s laborious to explain. However even for those who do it for a minute you’re like, okay, I did it for a second, so what? And by the way in which, for those who have been capable of do it even for a second good, that’s cool. You’re getting the thought, however so what is now do it once more and do it once more and, in truth, begin noticing that on a regular basis. Then it begins to be an enormous SO WHAT, begins to essentially really be helpful, essential, useful, stunning, deep.

As a result of that background, we will name it ‘the background’, it’s not likely the background however that background of consciousness is as a result of it’s the foreground and the center floor too, it’s all the pieces, proper? However we’ll name it the background of consciousness is secure and sane and clear and unruffled, nothing bothers it. And it’s, to place it in a humorous means, it’s in type of an excellent temper on a regular basis. It’s not likely a temper however openness and freedom and non-constrictedness simply really feel good. After which, regardless of how clogged up all of the arisings get or painful or troublesome or overwhelmingly no matter, that background or foreground or center floor or whole floor of consciousness is simply superb and at relaxation and open and simple, and it’s all the time there. and if there’s something that you just “really are,” that’s what you really are. 

And so, as you’re tuning in to the story in your head, simply acknowledge that that’s simply an arising. The story in your head shouldn’t be actually–it’s not a foul factor, we use it for varied stuff however discover how a lot the story in your head is about what’s unsuitable proper now, and it simply goes on and on about it, or why you may’t be/do that factor, or why you’re not like that, or why this different individual can’t be completely different, or no matter. And, you recognize, in some methods that may be helpful for manipulating the relative world, but it surely’s–particularly once you’re recognized with that as who you might be–that’s a reasonably depressing place to dwell. Nothing’s ever proper. That is unsuitable, this isn’t, this isn’t, that is unsuitable, this isn’t good, I’ve obtained to alter it, change it, change it, change it. Discover regardless of how a lot you’ve modified it, the quantity of change that appears essential is similar. It’s an infinite recreation that, you recognize, it’s a part of being alive. 

We have to simply proceed, you recognize, regardless of how a lot you clear the kitchen you’re gonna have to scrub it once more tomorrow. In order that’s simply a part of actuality however this sense that, ‘I can’t relaxation till it’s mounted,’ and it’ll by no means be mounted. That’s the entice that if we’re caught being fixated on the arisings or if we’re recognized with a narrative in our head and that’s all that’s occurring for us that’s going to be a reasonably depressing place by definition.

Whereas, the factor that it’s not a factor, however the factor that’s noticing that I’ll say, the noticing itself, doesn’t have any of these issues. You can, even for those who mounted all these issues, the noticing itself wouldn’t change. It’s already superb. It’s all the time been superb. On the day that you just have been born, you have been a miracle, like a surprising miracle. Popping out of nothing into, you recognize conscious, sentient somethingness.

We have now all these child birds in our yard and the truth that an egg can plop out of a hen after which finally develop and begin flying round and singing a tune and hanging out with different birds and splashing within the hen bathtub. And yesterday one landed on the chair with me, proper there behind the chair, a blue hen. I imply a jay, you recognize, a hen that was blue, not a blue hen, a blue jay, I imply that’s fucking insane.

Consider your closest individual, let’s say your closest good friend or relationship companion the individual you recognize the most effective, and take into consideration the intricacy of their being; their likes and dislikes, their emotions, the issues they’re very concerned in that they know a lot about, their historical past, the sensitivity they’ve in direction of this or that…All of that got here out of nothing. And we’ll return to nothing and in between, it’s simply hanging there in consciousness, it’s a miracle, it is unnecessary, it’s insane. 

How is there wakefulness even taking place proper now? The notice that’s right here, how is that taking place? Discover that it’s no person’s doing it but it surely’s right here. There’s an expertise taking place, that miracle of the day you have been born continues to be taking place, one thing’s awake, one thing’s experiencing. Did that experiencing come from wherever? Take a look at it proper now. Did it come from wherever? I’m not speaking about going to your concepts and your recollections or biology or one thing, I’m speaking about expertise proper now. Did it come from wherever? Did it begin sooner or later?

Take a look at it proper now. It’s a miracle and see how in comparison with that our concepts of the story of our life, or what we’re concerned in, or any of that, which is all tremendous fascinating, in comparison with that miracle is sort of a facet impact, or like an decoration, simply one other cool factor that tremendous miracle can do.

So in this type of meditation, we’re that, or that factor is noticing itself, it’s not a factor, however it’s noticing itself. The miracle notices itself. Watch your self slipping again into mundanity, to quotidian ideas and reduce by way of and are available again to the wakefulness the awakeness that’s beneath that, that helps that, that’s the substrate of that. That’s wonderful.

Questions or feedback or reviews?

One time I noticed within the courtyard of our residence constructing a child hummingbird get born which they’re in regards to the measurement of like an acorn or one thing teeny after which there have been these two morning doves they usually killed it. Morning doves had a nest close by they usually’re very territorial they usually you recognize they killed this child hummingbird, which pissed me off it was like hanging out of the nest, all tousled. So I yelled on the morning doves. 

However then a few seasons later, one other one was born, one other child hummingbird, little the scale of a marble, and that one lived. And the dad and mom, mum or dad hummingbirds, proper, are feeding the infant, and finally–we have been watching this very rigorously–it’s time to show it to fly. You understand a hummingbird is sort of a helicopter, proper, as a result of it’s barely managed chaos. It shouldn’t even have the ability to fly, definitely not in a managed means, and that, at first, was the hilarious factor. The infant hummingbird would get to the sting of the nest after which like type of simply zoom off in a single route then simply cease and, you recognize, the dad and mom would go attempt to assist it out. It’d cease on a department and be like oh as a result of it couldn’t management the route you recognize after which it will be like over to a different department. It’s principally the best factor I’ve ever seen.

After which someday–took a couple of day and a half of that simply completely chaotic, kind of like, you ever see somebody attempt to journey a motorbike who’s by no means finished it earlier than they usually hit the gasoline too laborious, which makes the bike lurch ahead, which makes them hit the gasoline more durable. It’s like, yeah, that’s what a child hummingbirds like. After which they’re wildly making an attempt to hit the brakes. Anyway, after a couple of day and a half the mom hummingbird like zoomed straight up and over the residence constructing again to the place all of the flowers have been, as a result of we had large wall of morning glories again there, like purple and blue morning glories that the hummingbirds appreciated and plenty of different flowers and the infant noticed the mom go over and it. You knew what was going to occur subsequent but it surely type of like was desirous about it after which lastly shot over the residence constructing and that was it. It knew the best way to fly then. I simply needed to have some uncontrolled freakout flights first. So, thus endeth the lesson.

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