The Tree of Earth and Sky 

Guided Nondual Meditation with Michael Taft

Meditation 

Okay, so we’ll do one thing we haven’t executed earlier than. Sit along with your fingers like this in your thighs. Palms up. And I would like you to simply breathe in by means of your fingers. So the palms of your fingers have holes that you would be able to breathe by means of. Simply take massive deep breaths by means of the palms of your fingers for a couple of minutes. Really feel the air speeding up your arms and down into your stomach after which again up out of your stomach and out your fingers.

All proper. So on the out-breath, you’ll be able to put your fingers again wherever you need them. And simply verify in with your self asking the query: what’s it prefer to be me proper now? So simply tuning into your frame of mind, your state of coronary heart, your state of physique, the state of life. What’s it prefer to be inside your pores and skin on this second? And only for the time of this meditation, let that be good. That means it doesn’t matter what’s occurring there, let or not it’s that method. Don’t have any agenda to alter it. Simply permit your self to be precisely the best way you might be. For as soon as letting go of the agenda to continually make it one thing completely different, make it one thing higher, make it one thing it ought to be, and as a substitute simply letting or not it’s precisely what it’s. 

After which into the house of being you proper now, simply permit your self to note, with none explicit focus, the rising and falling of the wave of the breath. So we’re not narrowly attending to that, we’re simply, in a very regular method, noticing the approaching and going of the breath, or let’s imagine, the rising and falling of the breath wave. So your thoughts stays good and open, good and broad. Not narrowing down on something specifically, however conscious of this rising wave of breath after which the falling wave of breath. And let’s stick with that collectively for a couple of minutes right here.

Simply persevering with to permit the thoughts to be relaxed and open and easily noticing that the breath comes and goes with out doing something explicit with it, however simply sitting and enjoyable and opening. 

And if it’s obtainable to you, I would like you to take up a metaphor of meditation tonight as if we’re meditating like a tree. Meditate like a tree and in reality, if this works for you, think about in entrance of you a stunning tree. It may be no matter type of tree, but it surely’s historical and thriving, and tremendously lovely. So both really feel that or think about it or simply really feel like a tree, however this tree has roots that go down into the core of the Earth. 

And so Earth power is rising up spreading out by means of the trunk and branches and leaves of the tree.  This historical, grounded, humble power that’s paradoxically each humble and noble. And the branches of the tree unfold out into the huge, open sky, and the sensible heat, therapeutic, sacred mild of the Solar is soaked up by all of the leaves of the tree and runs down the branches and into the trunk. 

Bear in mind we’re staying completely immobile. 

And you’ll think about within the heart of the tree within the trunk there’s a spot the place the daylight power and the earth power meet and mingle within the core or the center of the tree connecting the earth and the sky. And when these join the tree is full of blossoms and with fruit and with birds and animals. Now both really feel that, or image that, or think about that as clearly as you’ll be able to.

And whilst you’re doing that simply permit your self to essentially let go. Let go of any rigidity in your head or face, or any in your entrance or again, your stomach or your again. Launch all rigidity out of your legs and arms and fingers and ft. Permitting your self, as you type of bask within the presence of this lovely tree, to simply fully calm down and let go with none effort. Simply being within the presence means that you can merely drop now way more deeply right into a relaxed, open, nice, being with. 

And by which not solely your physique relaxes however your coronary heart loosens and opens. And on the subsequent set of breaths, you discover your self coming collectively or merging with the tree in order that the tree physique and your physique are one physique. Your roots go right down to the core of the earth. And on the in-breath, you are feeling the daylight pouring in from above filling your complete physique. And on the out-breath, you are feeling the earth power rising from beneath assembly within the coronary heart and opening your coronary heart an increasing number of fantastically, an increasing number of completely. Feeling the great vitality and aliveness and generativity and wonder and charm of this tree, and the concord and stability of the earth power and the sky power coming collectively in your coronary heart. 

Now steadily permitting the thoughts to increase upward and outward into an increasing number of of the sky. As a result of we’re rooted so deeply within the earth, the thoughts can increase upward and outward and upward and outward. Naturally, simply, effortlessly rolling open just like the sky. If the thoughts begins closing down round any explicit object–grabbing on, tightening, constricting–simply calm down. Let it return to its pure easy, vastness just like the sky. Holding on to nothing, permitting all the pieces, totally simple and open.

Good. Discover now, on this sky of consciousness, that physique sensations seem. There’s the sensation of physique and people are simply sensations flowing by means of the sky of consciousness, identical to wind within the sky. The sensations are there. They’ve numerous properties. Flowing like wind within the sky and never remaining wherever. Consistently altering and shifting and open and free. Even troublesome sensations, even painful sensations merely like wind shifting by means of the sky. Discover that these physique sensations haven’t any explicit heart. They only come up within the sky of consciousness and circulate there for some time like wind after which go away like wind, with none explicit location. 

Let’s discover one thing related about any feelings which can be arising. No matter they is likely to be. Regardless of how robust or how wispy and minute, emotional sensations merely go by means of the sky of the thoughts like wind, not sticking on something, not disturbing the sky and but there in all their complexity and element. The sky of the thoughts remaining tremendously open and straightforward, relaxed and huge. There’s room sufficient for all physique sensations. There’s room sufficient for all feelings. None are rejected, none are suppressed or denied. They’re all welcome.

And simply permit the query to come up within the sky of the thoughts: What emotion have I been making an attempt to not really feel, making an attempt to keep away from, making an attempt to suppress? And no matter that’s, simply let that come up now unimpeded. There’s greater than sufficient room within the sky of the thoughts for no matter we’ve been making an attempt to not really feel to be current. After which permit the query to come up: What feels this? after which look. What feels this? after which look.

Good. Now discover that into the huge sky of the thoughts of consciousness the winds of ideas are rising and falling. Numerous ideas coming and going with no residence, no place they arrive from, no place they go to. The winds of the ideas don’t disturb the sky of the thoughts in any method. Not an issue in any respect and likewise not particular, they’re simply winds.

After which into this huge, broad, open, effortlessly boundless sky of consciousness, permit the query to come up: What is aware of these ideas? What’s conscious of the winds of thought? What’s that? Look. You possibly can’t reply that query with extra ideas it’s important to look.

Now into the sky of the thoughts is arising the sensation of being you. And the sensation of being me, that sense of character and historical past and story that you simply have a tendency to hold round, that’s simply arising like wind within the sky, distinctive, fascinating, blowing round like winds in an unlimited, open, brilliant blue, heavenly sky, not disturbing the sky in any method. Coming from nowhere, returning to nowhere. Mercurial zephyrs of being you swirling round. 

Into the sky of the thoughts permit the query to come up: What is aware of this being? What is aware of this character? After which look, What is aware of it?

Good. Now into the huge sky of the thoughts arises the winds of this expertise meditating. Perhaps with aches and pains, possibly with troublesome feelings, possibly with chaotic ideas, possibly with a way of self that’s judgmental or harsh. Discover the winds of this second of expertise rising and falling within the sky of the thoughts. By no means the identical in a single second to the subsequent. Altering this fashion and that. Not bothering the sky in any respect and but there in all their richness and element. 

And the subsequent second of the expertise arises and blows across the sky of the thoughts and the subsequent second. And a query arises: What is aware of this second? You possibly can’t reply that with phrases it’s important to look. Look now. What is aware of this second? In the event you suppose you discovered it, look nearer. And what notices that the winds of physique sensation, and the breezes of emotion, and the Zephyrs of thought, and the assorted airs and winds of being a self, and being an expertise are all a part of the sky of consciousness. Not separate in any respect. Naturally and spontaneously every of them figuring out themselves, effortlessly, with none heart and with no rim.

What is aware of that? Now look. Look. Look. Noticing that even the branches and roots and trunk of the tree and the leaves usually are not completely different than the sky. And feeling the sunshine, the nice and cozy, life-giving mild of the solar flowing within the branches on the in-breath and the grounding, therapeutic, earth power flowing on the out-breath. And feeling the groundedness and aliveness of this tree. 

And in your picture permitting the tree now to shrink down in order that it lives in your coronary heart, totally alive, tremendously lovely, burgeoning with flowers and fruit, birds and animals residing within the tree, the nests have infants in them and the tree glows with a light-weight of sanctity and charm, blessedness. And the place will you plant the seeds of that tree? The place will they discover wealthy soil and take root?

Excellent. Now, with me, collectively let’s chant Om mani padme hum very loudly, very resonantly a couple of instances, like possibly 9 instances. 

Om mani padme hum, Om mani padme hum Om mani padme hum…

Good. Let’s finish the meditation there. Be happy to maneuver and stretch. 

Dharma Discuss, Q&A

Om Mani Padme Hum is the mantra of the Bodhisattva of compassion referred to as Avalokiteshvara normally which implies she who hears the sad cries of the world. She who listens to the cries of the world. And Om is after all Om, the common Mantra.  After which on the finish we’ve bought Hum. Generally I hear individuals say Om mani padme om.  It’s Om mani padme hum. That hum or hung, relying on the way you’re announcing your Sanskrit, is the seed syllable of Mahakala, this tremendous intense protecting deity, tantric type of Shiva. So Mahakala. After which in between we’ve bought the Mani Padme which accurately means Jewel Lotus. And so you’ll be able to hear translations prefer it means the jewel is within the lotus, however after all that’s not there linguistically, but it surely’s actually simply saying to the Jeweled Lotus. So in all probability we’re calling Avalokiteshvara by one other title like a Bodhisattva title Jewel Lotus, like a fairly title. So Om to the Jewel Lotus Hum. It’s type of an open-source Mantra. You don’t should have any initiations or no matter to make use of. I like that one. 

So discover what it’s prefer to be you proper now. We did a complete bunch of testing stuff, what it felt prefer to really feel your physique and really feel your feelings and permit ideas to simply be there. And even: What it was like to permit character to easily come up? Or this expertise of this second to come up? So discover now could be it completely different in any method from after we began? And what’s that like? And it’s type of paradoxical as a result of I stated try what it’s prefer to be you proper at times don’t change it, or don’t really feel like it’s important to change it in any method after which we principally spend an hour altering it, however not with any agenda, however merely that it’s at all times altering anyway. So you’ll be able to simply form of undergo these steps and as an experiment and see what occurs, not as some type of mechanistic sequence of change.

So what’s it prefer to be you proper now? And way more importantly, who is aware of it? Or what’s figuring out that? Actually typically you’ll hear a solution to that query however actually you’ll be able to’t reply it with phrases and you’ll’t reply it with reminiscences and you’ll’t reply it with rationalization you’ll be able to’t reply it with, at the very least you’ll be able to, however you’ll be able to’t do it truthfully simply from eager about it. It’s a must to look. In order I’m at all times saying, it’s like a the place’s Waldo puzzle, you’ll be able to’t determine that out, you simply look.

So after I say, what is aware of this? It’s not, Oh I bought to determine that out or I do know the reply to that, it’s no, look, proper now, look. So do it proper now. Look. What’s figuring out this second? Can you discover it? And what’s so attention-grabbing is, while you discover you’ll be able to’t discover it, trace, you’ll be able to’t, that it is extremely simple to start out saying, Oh that’s the particular separate factor that is aware of, regardless that I can’t discover it, it’s just like the house of the factor that’s conscious. After which the ideas and physique sensations and emotion and sense of self and all that may be a type of like occurring inside that or that’s like fish within the water of consciousness or one thing. And it’s not that that’s not true but it surely’s like that’s solely half true.

It’s solely half true as a result of all these issues are, in a way, not any completely different than consciousness. They’re the expressions of consciousness. They’re the waves on the ocean or no matter. In order that it’s not the case that we now have this particular consciousness that is aware of expertise and expertise is one thing else. If something it’s the expertise. We’re the expertise or at the very least aren’t separate in any method from the expertise. We might virtually say the expertise is the decoration of consciousness. So even your type of most darkish, judgy, contracted, shitty thought remains to be a pure expression of this figuring out, completely completely pure, as pure as anything.

So the arising of this room proper now and everybody and all the pieces in it and all of your most intimate inner sensations and feelings and reminiscences are like this effulgent expression of figuring out. 

So I’m curious if that’s touchdown for you? Or if you happen to had a meditation expertise you’d prefer to share? Or if some burning query is arising that you simply really feel like throwing at me. Though why I might know the reply, who is aware of, but when one thing’s arising for you that you simply’d prefer to share, increase your hand and I’ll name on you and be at liberty to share it. We at all times should type of break the floor rigidity right here. There’s like the primary goer. So in a minute, I’ll simply name on some random sufferer until someone’s courageous sufficient to share their expertise or ask a query or critique me intensely that is likely to be enjoyable. 

Questioner 1: It was the primary time the place I felt like I used to be capable of meditate and it was very particular.

Michael: What did it really feel prefer to meditate for the primary time?

Questioner 1: It felt like I took a step away from myself. I went into one other room of like a really wholesome distance.

Michael: So you bought to type of have a bit little bit of perspective on your self. 

Questioner 1: Yeah, it felt like watching a film the place I used to be a personality 

Michael: Yeah, and that felt impactful. 

Questioner 1: Yeah, I believe I’m a bit uninterested in myself.  

Michael: Aren’t all of us, proper? This may very well be an actual reduction. Glorious thanks for sharing and letting me simply name on you. Who else has one thing to share earlier than I simply begin calling on you? You’re feeling the rising rigidity…

Questioner 2: Okay, selecting your journey. My query is why, what’s the purpose of doing this? What’s the purpose of doing something? 

Michael: That’s two questions and do you imply them to be expansions one of many different or would you like it to essentially be two questions?

Questioner 2: The second query is a broadening of the primary query as your studying advised.

Michael: Okay so that you’re type of asking me what’s the which means of life proper? Would you say that’s a very good…

Questioner 2: Within the context of the stuff that you realize about that I received’t go into nice element. I’m form of having a tough time and the best way by which I’m having a tough time with one thing that I had practiced for a number of years within the hopes of not having occur to me, and on condition that that did occur to me, I form of don’t know why I ought to present as much as the religious apply moreover issues prefer it feels good and it’s enjoyable.

Michael: Okay 

Questioner 2: That’s why I stated you selected your journey.

Michael: No, yeah, I’m down for it. So, initially, it feels good and is enjoyable. That’s already one thing. That’s already a purpose and if you happen to fully shrug these off, then the remainder of the explanations will in all probability be shrug-off-able as nicely, however I might say there’s one thing about greeting our destiny with grace and with acceptance and possibly even with love that’s the which means of knowledge as a result of each life goes to come across actually troublesome shitty stuff. Even perhaps the very issues that individual dreaded probably the most and but all of us should work with that. 

One thing that we will–I virtually by no means do that, you guys know I don’t do that–however okay, so basic Buddhist story… That is when the historic Buddha was strolling round in India and a girl got here to him with a… whose toddler little one had not too long ago died and she or he was in abject grief after all and the Buddha comforted her and was very type and so forth. And but she stored asking why? So it wasn’t nearly being comforted, there was this query of why. And so he stated you realize we’re in such and such a village right here. I would like you to knock on the door of each home on this village and ask them if they’ve had any misfortunes or grief. And so she goes from home to deal with and naturally, each one in every of them have additionally had family members die, have additionally had horrible issues occur to them, have additionally seen their worst fears come true, have additionally suffered.

And the purpose there wasn’t type of the dickish transfer of making an attempt to attenuate her struggling in any respect, it was about that query why and to level out that this befalls everybody and the which means of knowledge is to reply gracefully and even perhaps fantastically to that have. And that in a profound method we’re not picked out for particular punishment, regardless of how a lot it feels that method or regardless of how painful it really is and it’s painful, however each human and doubtless each being experiences that grief, that ache, that sorrow and ask themselves why.

I keep in mind one time after I was like possibly 5 I bought actually excited concerning the pasta that was cooking and grabbed the pot of boiling water with one hand, type of by chance, and I can nonetheless really feel the spot of my hand there. I simply burned myself so badly and I’m like sobbing and I used to be actually little, and I simply stored asking “however Mommy why, why did that occur to me? why did that occur to me?” and naturally, my mother is crying. And I imply it comes with having a stomach button, proper? I imply that’s life. But it surely’s not that’s life in type of a callous, Buck up Buttercup type of method, it’s a why will we do that? We do that in order that we will reply with grace and with magnificence and possibly even meaning-making to tragedy, in addition to have fun and create and be generative and provides thanks for all the pieces.

In order that’s at the very least a few of the causes to do stuff. And spot we’re all right here collectively. You aren’t alone. See if yow will discover somebody on this room who hasn’t suffered one thing horrible and hasn’t felt alone and like a particular you realize punching bag of God or no matter. Inform me if you happen to discover somebody as a result of everyone knows that and with our open hearts and camaraderie we will

meet you there. That’s another excuse we do that. Okay? I’m glad you got here tonight.

The rest? Different questions, feedback?

Questioner 3: I discover the prospect of turning into extra smart and swish very motivating and but to this point, I assume by means of apply, I’ve seen ways in which I possibly don’t seize so exhausting on expertise.

Michael: That’s already wiser and extra swish. Discover that after we’re tense and contracted and grabby that’s graceless and likewise tends to harm.

Questioner 3: There’s part of me that’s curious if alongside that, I assume absence of clutching or absence of greedy, I observed that at finest to this point it’s like I can type of gently see that I’m flailing or rejecting my expertise. It’s like I’m extra gently rejecting my expertise.

Michael: Glorious or reject it intensely however simply discover it clearly.

Questioner 3: I discover there’s curiosity whether or not continued apply results in a supply of motion that feels wiser as nicely, extra attuned to what the second wants someplace, or what would add to the second in a method that will be wiser and extra swish?

Michael: I really like the query. I believe you’ll be able to’t assist it. It’s not apply such as you’re gonna beat your self into that or in some way file your self into that. It’s simply by enjoyable and opening and possibly simply by giving thanks that type of responsiveness begins to occur extra simply and extra typically. It is likely to be the case like I used to be saying final week, that simply saying sure to no matter is arising is likely to be the entire thing. Regardless of how exhausting that’s. Proper? Thanks.

Questioner 4: Reflecting from the final two questions, I believe for me both accepting or discovering a approach to cope with troublesome instances feels extra pure or virtually the factor that feels safer to simply accept that that’s what’s gonna be the longer term and be prepared for it. Then get pleasure from issues and even have the or the prospect of it may very well be unhealthy but it surely may be superb, the superb aspect of it within the second and after I even envision the longer term, that half feels tougher. It doesn’t come naturally. So I virtually really feel like I’m simply attending to this degree of peace and contentment, however pleasure appears a lot tougher. 

Michael: So that you’re saying the concept of discovering pleasure in no matter might come up is tougher.

Questioner 4: To permit myself to benefit from the second or to permit myself to suppose that life may very well be good. It’s simpler for me to be like, Oh life may very well be very unhealthy, I’m gonna nonetheless be completely satisfied even when issues go unhealthy however the considered issues being good…

Michael: Is extra terrifying. How come? What can be the draw back of all the pieces going nicely?

Questioner 4: It’s uh, I don’t know why, I can’t think about it as a lot, however I assume it comes right down to worry that I might somewhat not even have the hope of it as a result of then I’ll be upset.

Michael: Proper, if somebody got here to you, let’s say you had a youthful sister. Do you may have a youthful sister? Okay, so good, so pure creativeness. You’ve gotten a youthful sister and she or he got here to you and stated, “I’m so in love with this individual, however I can’t inform them and I don’t wish to do something about it as a result of I’m so afraid that it’s going to go away.” What would you say to your sister? Would you say “Don’t try this, provide yourself with protection and go be protected?”

Questioner 4: I wouldn’t say that, however I might actually wrestle saying go for it.

Michael:  Wow yeah, okay. 

Questioner 4: It’s deep.

Michael: It’s deep and but you see that if you happen to stored saying that what would life grow to be?

Questioner 4: Lame. 

Michael: Lame, yeah extraordinarily lame  and nonetheless unhealthy issues would occur. So that you get solely the unhealthy aspect proper. 

Questioner 4: Effectively that’s why I introduced this up.

Michael: However you already know the reply. It’s a must to do it anyway. We don’t get born right here as a result of it’s protected. If you need ‘protected,’ this isn’t the planet.

Questioner 4: What’s stopping me? How do I get previous it?

Michael: Simply see the worry for what it’s and acknowledge, like I’ve been saying, like unhealthy stuff will occur too however that’s okay. Good things occurs and I imply it’s important to get pleasure from and have fun the good things, in any other case why even hassle?

Questioner 4: It’s a lot tougher accepting the great.

Michael: Yeah nicely, there you go there’s your work.

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Thanks, thanks in your questions and feedback everybody.

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