Touching the Stillness – Deconstructing Your self

Streamed stay on June 20, 2024

Meditation 

Welcome to tonight’s meditation. Let’s begin out like we did final week, with some mani mantra. In the event you’re not used to doing this, that is the usual mantra of Avalokiteshvara: it’s om mani padme hum, and we’re going to do it for like 5 minutes. It’s good for those who do it with loads of vitality. The entire level is to lift vitality, proper? Get you energized. All non secular observe of any form raises vitality, as a result of most of you, on a median day, with a median quantity of vitality, your thoughts is optimized to make use of all that to gas your neurosis, proper? It’s completely optimized to make use of all that up, and so to interrupt out of our neurotic thoughts into some risk of change in any respect, we’ve to lift our vitality—no matter meaning to you. I’m simply going to name it vitality. Non secular observe of many many many types raises vitality, and so that permits us to chop by way of the neurosis and into one thing new—minimize out of our behavior patterns. Besides, if, if you’re elevating vitality, and, let’s say you’re doing a mantra observe out loud—om mani padme hum—and we’re doing it, and also you’re simply nonetheless sitting there spinning in your neurosis, your neurotic techniques will simply deplete, suck up all of the vitality, and simply make you spin quicker in your craziness. 

So, keep in mind, if you’re doing the mantra, to stick with the mantra, keep together with your coronary heart. Ensure that extra vitality you’re creating goes in the direction of slicing by way of, not simply spinning in your bullshit, okay? So, once more, the mantra is om mani padme hum, and there’s a there’s a behavior for individuals to sort of say om manee podmee whom—it’s “padmay,” proper? We sort of need to make these ending vowels rhyme or one thing, however they don’t rhyme. 

Om mani padme hum

Now, simply resting within the vitality of that Mantra, staying large open, stepping outdoors any sort of entanglement with thought. Simply resting within the large open, large awakeness, and feeling your self breathe. Let’s try this collectively for some time right here. At the very least for a second, simply contact large openness—even when it’s only for a second. Only a thoughts like open sky, simply completely clear, vibrant, unentangled, no creativeness, no thought, simply openness.

Then, from there, let’s do some Tonglen, for your self, or for somebody rather well who’s struggling. You breathe in all of the struggling on the in-breath, imagining it to be like black smoke that you just’re inhaling. Sizzling, dusty stuff—thick, troublesome. Inhaling all of the struggling, taking all of the struggling on your self, and on the out-breath, giving them any peace, any aid, any pleasure, any sweetness, any love, any mild. So, you’re taking up their ache, giving all of them your aid. We’re doing this from the place of large openness. That large openness has an infinite capability to tackle this problem. It’s not prefer it’s simply our personal little character making an attempt to take it on—that may be an excessive amount of. We’d be overwhelmed. However, as large openness, skylike, large awakeness, we’ve limitless capability, so we’re taking it on, taking it on, taking it on. Then giving freely all the great, all the enjoyment, all of the peace, all of the aid, all of the well being, all of the love, all the wonder, to them, in order that they really feel aid.

The visualization on the out-breath is like white mild, so that you’re respiratory on this darkish, darkish smoke of all the problem, after which respiratory out this white mild of aid, peace, pleasure, well being, love.

Good. Then let’s develop our circle of concern, perhaps to 10 or 12 individuals we all know. As a result of we’ve this infinite capability, we tackle all of their sufferings, and breathe out that a lot aid, that a lot pleasure, that a lot kindness, that a lot love. Don’t maintain again. Discover any concern or reticence to take it on.  It’s fascinating, right here we’re not holding again, and we’re not reticent. It’s like a hearth sale on the finish of time, we’re taking all of it on, and giving freely the whole lot we’ve bought.

Excellent. Then, let’s develop our circle of concern once more, to incorporate all of the individuals you’ve already been doing, after which everybody on this room. That is our Sangha, that is our observe group, and so we embody them in our giving and taking, our Tonglen observe. So embody the ache, struggling, sickness, difficulties, of everybody on this room. Discover it’s weirder with strangers. Do it anyway. Breathe it in, after which give away all the good things, all the enjoyment, all of the peace, all of the kindness, all of the satisfaction, all of the well being, all of the love, all of the belonging—give it away. Give it away, give it away.

Excellent. And now, let’s develop it yet another time, to incorporate each being within the universe. Not simply people, with all their struggling—and consider me, there’s loads of it, but additionally each animal whose house is poisoned or destroyed, or youngsters who’re killed, or trapped in a vivisection lab someplace. All animals, all alien beings, different worldly beings, all over the place, on each planet. Breathe in all that ache, problem, struggling—actually really feel it as a sort of choking black smoke. After which, on the out-breath, give away the whole lot you’ve bought. Once more, due to our huge awake consciousness, there’s greater than sufficient capacity to take this all in, and provides away whole aid, soothing the fear, respiratory peace into the craze and grief, calming the great sorrow, therapeutic the sick, loving the unloved. And simply discover how that adjustments our fundamental stance, from that temper of, effectively, I’m simply going to maintain ensuring my pile of beans is larger than your pile of beans—it’s all sort of a zero-sum sport, to simply give away all of the beans, as a result of there’s no lack of beans. 

This observe just isn’t about by some means having an enormous emotional expertise—though that may occur, however that’s not likely the purpose. Simply discover how your coronary heart turns into softer, much less defended, extra open, extra goopy. And the sense of the atomized, divided, guarded, separate, self softens, and opens, and turns into permeable, and even linked—perhaps even revealed to be what it really is, which is completely nonseparate.

Okay, good. Now you possibly can let go of that, and what I would like you to do is, within the very open manner, your thoughts actually relaxed, unengaged with thought. On every in-breath, really feel the breath going into the decrease dantian, into the spot just a few inches beneath your navel, proper within the middle of your physique. It’s like an vitality spot there. Simply really feel the breath going into that, and on the out-breath it flows up the central channel, out the highest of your head, and into area. The out-breath releases the whole lot into area. So, in-breath, only a regular in-breath—might be sluggish, however doesn’t need to be large or something, only a good breath. Really feel it filling or going into that spot beneath your navel, not on the pores and skin, however deep within the middle of the physique. Then on the out-breath, it goes up the central channel out the highest of your head, and your thoughts simply dissolves into area, into sky.

For some individuals, having seed syllables related to this helps. So, on the in-breath, into the decrease dantian, into the beneath the navel chakra, we are able to say, om, om to your self, silently, as we breathe into that middle, feeling it energizing and warming. Then on the out-breath, out the highest of your head, thoughts dissolves into area, turns into simply open readability. There the seed syllable we’ll use is hre—hree. It’s actually H, R with a DOT underneath it, I, H with a DOT underneath it, however simply consider it as HREE. Your entire thoughts, all thought, all psychological constructs simply dissolve into large open area. You possibly can let that out-breath, if you want—after all, do what’s comfy, however you possibly can let that out-breath be fairly a bit longer than the in-breath. Simply discover how the thoughts simply turns into vapor, and dissolves into area, evaporates into sky, and also you’re simply left with shining awakeness, utterly uninvolved with any thought.

On the  in-breath, you are able to do it once more, silently, like, “ooooooooooooooh.” Going into that, actually energizing that chakra, actually feeling it stuffed with light and heat and peace and vitality and readability. Then, on the out-breath, it’s HREE—the whole lot up and out the highest of the pinnacle. It simply evaporates within the sky. In fact, don’t make any effort to reconstitute the thoughts on the in-breath. It might try this of its personal accord, but when it doesn’t, that’s nice. We’re not likely doing a visualization right here, you don’t need to image any of this in creativeness. You simply sort of really feel it, or turn out to be it.

Again and again, the thoughts dissolves into area, it evaporates into open, awake, skylike, consciousness. It’s not possible to have any thought there, or, if the ideas are occurring, you’re not attaching to them in any respect, not being with them in any respect. There’s simply awakeness and openness.

Good. Then, on an in-breath, simply drop consciousness into that stomach chakra, and simply keep there, feeling the vitality there. Remembering we’re not projecting, we’re not imagining that we’re projecting consciousness down from the pinnacle, trying on the vitality middle, we’re simply inside it, feeling it from inside it. Noticing the vibratory, always altering, highly effective, sense of vitality there, vitality. Simply stick with that, from inside it. You might discover how, with every in-breath, it form of prices up, and with every out-breath, it radiates outward. So, we’re not doing the dissolving the thoughts outdoors, above the pinnacle, however somewhat, simply staying with this vitality middle. As you stick with it, you could discover it get hotter, extra energized, extra apparent.

To the most effective of your capacity, stay utterly uninvolved with thought. Once more, we’re not stopping considering—it may possibly try this as a lot because it needs within the background, however simply don’t have interaction, stick with the sensation, the vitality feeling, within the physique. Doing this visualization, this being nonvisualization, being with the vitality, you could discover that your complete physique feels sort of energized.  It will be very straightforward to give attention to that vitality, and journey it into an altered state from that. Simply keep in mind that you possibly can try this, we’re not going to try this, however it’s there as a risk. 

As a substitute, discover what’s contained in the vitality middle, contained in the vitality. Within the vitality middle, what do you are feeling proper inside it? Proper within the middle—it’s huge openness, huge area, infinite area. In the event you’re trying on the middle, that’s laborious to see, however for those who’re in that middle, it’s simply Infinite area—not as a visualization, not as an creativeness, however as a direct feeling. The middle of the physique is open to infinite area. Then, outdoors the physique, like we noticed after we had been doing the HREE, is open to infinite area, inside and out of doors, simply infinite area. There’s no boundary between them, there’s simply large open, large awakeness, completely clear and vibrant, relaxed and open, together with the whole lot, excluding nothing. Stay disengaged with any considered any form. Simply be with the expertise, vibrant, clear, crisp, relaxed, spontaneous, openness. Unsleeping, no boundaries of any form.

Discover the great stillness of this open awakeness—it’s totally nonetheless, completely silent, completely boundless. Brightly, shiningly, awake. Completely nonetheless, clear, silent, openness—regardless that it’s open like sky, the stillness is stable like a diamond, like a mountain of diamond, simply completely rock stable nonetheless. Completely silent.

Good. Now, from this area of nonetheless, silent, large awakeness, discover the flavors of sensation and motion within the physique. They’re not nonetheless—the emotions of vitality, the emotions of standard sensations, the motion of the breath and the beating of the center, and so forth. All of the stuff that’s not nonetheless—discover that it’s not in any manner separate from that stillness. They’re totally different—one is transferring, and one remains to be, however they’re by no means separate. We may virtually say that the actions, the sensations, expressions of the stillness. Hear the sounds of the world round you. They’re totally different than the silence—it’s sound, it’s noise, so totally different from the silence, however by no means separate. Not in any manner separate, ever. You possibly can’t have the sound with out the silence. They arrive collectively. 

Discover the actions of the thoughts, with out participating with these actions. The exercise of thought—it’s like a steady babbling brook—so totally different from the stillness, and but by no means separate. The ideas come up out of the stillness, and solely might be due to the stillness. They’re all the time collectively, they comprise the stillness.

Good. In case your eyes are open, discover the world round you—repeatedly in motion, a riot of colour, form, kind. Expression so totally different from the huge boundless, open, readability, however by no means separate from it in any manner. It’s the expression of the openness, the daughter of the area. So, noticing the stillness, the silence, the openness, the readability, and all the emotions within the physique, all of the sensations of vitality, all of the thought exercise, all of the sounds, all of the sights, and the whole lot else—by no means separate. The one requires the opposite, and accommodates it.

Now, I would like you to have a look at what’s having this expertise—don’t give it some thought, don’t attempt to clear up it, don’t think about it, simply look. What’s having the expertise? Is it emotions and thought exercise? Is it stillness, silence, openness? Simply look. Simply look. What’s having this expertise? Look, proper now. Discover it. You possibly can’t discover it by fascinated by it, it’s a must to look.

Okay. Let’s finish that there.

Q&A

In the event you’ve bought any questions for me, or stuff arising, elevate your hand. Do not forget that the Web is listening.

Questioner 1: Hello. My query is about working with emotions and feelings, and realizing the area behind them, beneath. I feel it goes by way of realizing vacancy for me, that means, let’s say, if I’m working with anger, and the vitality of that second, I discover the area is after I spotted the vacancy. However, for another sort of feelings, like anxiousness I’ve been sitting with, I discover it extra like a composite, somewhat than an easier sort of an emotion…

Michael: It’s simply concern, so it’s an emotion.

Questioner 1: Yeah, proper, and I feel it’s composite as a result of there are a number of issues that I’ve to appreciate, like vacancy of self, of sensory experiences, of there’s additionally greed, there are such a lot of various things inside anxiousness. And the vitality behind it’s so fiery, and transferring, simply transferring from right here to there. But it surely’s not clear from the place to the place. It’s not even a thought, it’s simply transferring—very excessive pace. So, what to do with composite situations like that, which is that there are such a lot of issues to dissolve or notice. It’s simply an excessive amount of, too many issues inside it.

Michael: Certain. There’s loads of issues that we give a single title to, which are manufactured from composite components like that. For instance, the sense of self in any respect is a bunch of ideas and feelings and physique sensations, and reminiscences, and all that. So regardless that we’re calling it a way of self, it’s composed of a bunch of items or components. So, if we’ve a robust sense of capacity to see vacancy, we simply see the vacancy of the entire thing without delay, as a result of even when it’s totally different items, it doesn’t matter, they’re all empty. So we simply see the vacancy suddenly. However, if that’s not accessible, you then simply break it up into the composite components, and go one by one. Right here’s the emotion half, see the vacancy of that. Right here’s the considering half, see the vacancy of that—like that. And, you simply do it again and again, and finally you possibly can see the vacancy of the composite. So, you simply have to take a seat extra, however on this case it’s not simply simply sitting there sitting. You’re being fairly deliberate about what you’re specializing in. That’s only one technique to do it. As I say, the concept there’s a factor there that’s manufactured from different issues is already a building. So, actually, you possibly can simply sort of see the constructedness of the entire thing—and that’s vacancy, proper? However that’s tougher, so if that’s not accessible, then we again up and simply break it into items. Divide and conquer, proper? 

Questioner 1: However then, after we take a look at the vacancy of the entire thing for anxiousness, what’s that factor? It’s simply the entire.  

Michael: Simply take a look at it. Even calling it a complete factor, we’re noticing its constructedness, in order that’s already pointing in the direction of vacancy, proper? So simply the entire expertise, it’s only a psychological fantasy that has elements, however after all we are able to undergo that one bit at a time and see the vacancy of every of these so-called elements. 

Questioner 1: Yeah, I imply, I don’t prefer to undergo that. 

Michael: That’s the down and soiled, pedal to the metallic vipashyana manner.  In any other case, you simply loosen up to the expertise and see the vacancy of the entire thing. Tougher to do, however a lot simpler.

Questioner 1: Yeah, thanks.

Michael: Sure, who’s subsequent?

Questioner 2:  Hey, so after we had been doing this, and sometimes after I do physique somatic stuff, I used to be feeling loads of vitality construct up round right here [gesturing to the forehead, brow and bridge of the nose], even when specializing in the dantian. I feel that when that occurs, generally it feels painful, not likely painful sufficient for me to need to cease sitting, however sufficient to have an impulse to repair it, or let it transfer elsewhere, or let it sort of equalize with the dantian down decrease. I’m wondering, when that occurs, is it higher to essentially examine it and look into that. Looking for that the area in between within the center, which sort of works, or is that’s digging into that sensation, reifying it by some means. Versus making an attempt to look out and at the whole lot else except for it.

Michael: The reply is, it relies upon. Basically, that may all be thought of a distraction from what we’re making an attempt to do, proper? So, for those who can simply preserve going, simply preserve going, but when it’s actually changing into an issue—it hurts, or it’s an excessive amount of, then the straightforward repair that’s accessible for some individuals is, you simply intend the vitality to maneuver down. As you get good with working in vitality, you possibly can intend it, and it’ll simply transfer. It follows intention. In order that’s why, for instance, for those who’re doing a primary jhana, you possibly can transfer the piti round. It should simply transfer wherever your thought goes, as a result of the vitality follows the thought. So, you simply do the identical factor with the vitality in your brow—simply carry it down into the dantian, and you then’re golden. If none of that’s working, and also you’re getting a headache, and it’s horrible, I might simply say simply cease doing that meditation. However, if you wish to examine the factor, and primarily simply see its

vacancy somewhat than reifying it, however see its openness, its motion high quality, its spaciousness, try this.

Questioner 2:   Thanks, I’ll experiment extra.

Michael: Yeah, superb. It’s actually vital usually, after we’re doing the vitality stuff, regardless that it’s like, right here’s this middle, and we’re meditating on it, and also you’re doing a sound there, and all that. Attempt to not reify any of it. Let it simply be a bizarre dream you’re having. It’s not like there’s an actual middle there—you’re treating it as virtually like a dream or one thing.

Questioner 3:   Hey, I’ve a query about coming from a background of vipassana observe.

Michael: What sort of vipassana observe? 

Questioner 3:  Began with guided meditations, eyes closed, being attentive to the breath, then every time you see one thing come up,

Michael: Any specific retreats or something like that? 

Questioner 3:  Yeah, Spirit Rock.

Michael: Okay, bought it. 

Questioner 3:  Yeah, is it smart to choose a route and go along with it? Clearly, it’s all resulting in the identical place, however when it comes to a day by day observe, is it smart to choose, okay I’m gonna do that model or I’m gonna do that model, and try this on daily basis?

Michael: Assuming that you just’ve tried out the menu of kinds, so that you sort of know what’s on the market and what you want, sure. And, it’s not all going to the identical place. Totally different colleges have totally different concepts about the place this goes, and the concepts about the place it goes matter. We had been simply speaking about this earlier than class, you discover what you’re searching for. In the event you don’t assume there’s one thing past that, you don’t look past that, and so forth. So, understanding the place totally different colleges assume you’re going is vital. 

Questioner 3:  Okay, thanks.

Michael: I keep in mind, for those who take a look at the guide Transformations of Consciousness from about 1985 or one thing, it’s primarily written by Ken Wilbur, however Dan Brown is in there a bit, and Dan did a extremely fascinating factor. He studied within the authentic textual content the Visuddhimagga, so all of the vipassana stuff, after which the unique textual content of Patanjali Yoga Sutras, in order that model of meditation. Then—I overlook which Mahamudra textual content, however he studied it in Tibetan, and his conclusion, which I feel is fascinating and supportable, was sort of the alternative of The Perennial Philosophy thought. Truly, every of those three completely totally different traditions had been sort of boiling all the way down to the identical sequence of meditations, however they had been ending up in completely totally different locations, as a result of they had been aiming for various issues, so as a substitute of all paths result in one aim, it was like, all of the paths are an identical, and the targets are totally different. So, you possibly can take that or depart it, however it’s what you’re getting your self into. 

Questioner 3:  So, when it comes to discovering a observe to stay to, what would you advocate? Like simply training and seeing what works? Or, like, when it comes to trying in the direction of the top aim, and seeing is that this one thing that resonates?

Michael: That’s a much bigger query. Once more, attempt the totally different practices, to see the place the cylinders are firing. You possibly can actually really feel it. Totally different individuals have totally different locations of resonance with totally different practices. But in addition, be taught sufficient concerning the custom to grasp what they are saying the top aim is, after which—and that is vitally vital. That is simply my very own expertise: take a look at what the individuals who try this observe are like. Not simply certainly one of them, however a bunch of them, as a result of that’s what you’ll find yourself like. [Laughter]

Different stuff arising for folk on the market in meditation land? 

Questioner 1:  So, the second strategy, which you stated that you’d take a look at the entire thing and notice the vacancy of it, which is tougher, however simpler. Would you agree that there’s no system to that? It simply both occurs or doesn’t, miraculously?

Michael: I wouldn’t say it like that. I might simply say, as I discussed, it’s your facility with recognizing vacancy. That facility is educated, identical to you possibly can be taught to see a sign inside noise, however totally different individuals have totally different skills there, primary. Then, quantity two, how a lot coaching have you ever had in seeing the sign within the noise. Over time, that will get simpler and simpler and simpler, the popularity will get clearer and extra apparent, clearer and extra apparent. So it’s not only a random issue, it’s a trainable factor of recognition.

Questioner 1:  Okay.

Questioner 4: Yeah, hi there. I’ve a query about need. From awake consciousness, there’s sort of an fascinating factor round pleasure, this language of effulgence from awake consciousness, , the place you’ve bought Shakti because the expression of the enjoyment of the goddess, and vacancy. You possibly can really feel that radiant like a mountain manufactured from diamond. Effectively, you didn’t say a mountain manufactured from like metal or stone, it’s shining vibrant, intense, radiant diamond. I’m sort of curious concerning the emergence of upper order non-emotions. We’ve talked concerning the need of the Goddess, Shakti. Are you able to discuss concerning the manifestation of need from the view—like needs and needs?

Michael:  It’s an fascinating factor. If we’re working within the tantric mode or the Vajrayanic mode, need just isn’t one thing to eliminate, however neither is it one thing to get all caught in. Moderately, discover that even, as I saved saying, the stillness and the exercise are by no means separate. The exercise comes from the stillness. The stillness is contained by the exercise. In one other manner, they they want one another, and so we are able to get on this transcendent mode of considering that, oh, there’s simply this sort of good stillness that needs nothing, and that’s the most effective factor, however that’s not it, as a result of the right stillness really is pregnant with the whole lot. All that—the whole lot, busts out of there, due to need, yeah, however it’s not egoic need, it’s the need of the void. I don’t know the best way to put it. It’s totally different, it’s very easy to combine up, and it’s very easy to think about that my little worldly needs actually are the need of goddess, or one thing, which is absolutely one thing to look out for. However, it’s not like there’s simply this flat land of desirelessness. This all is right here due to need.

Questioner 4: Okay, yeah, thanks.

Questioner 5:  I conceptually preferred the instruction that was like, if you’re visualizing the vitality form of at your middle, to not visualize, or not even to visualise it, however to not visualize it from the place that we’ve our notion of consciousness, which is form of like in our head, which is an creativeness. And so, I appreciated that, however I felt actually caught when that instruction was given. I discovered it very troublesome to separate from that imagined location. So, I used to be questioning for those who had any recommendation round getting nearer to that, or the best way to break that down just a little. 

Michael: Are you able to discover that the sense that your consciousness is positioned in your head is an creativeness? Are you able to discover that proper now? Is that accessible? 

Questioner 5: I feel so. 

Michael: So long as you’re clear that it’s imaginary, you then don’t need to let go of it, or eliminate it. It’s only a image in your head. Now, come into the sensation, and you’ll be with it. So don’t attempt to combat that, however for those who can’t discover that it’s imaginary, then the work is to maintain working with psychological pictures till you notice the refined ones actually matter. The actually wispy refined psychological pictures which are so unconscious we’ve a tough time noticing them at first, turn out to be aware sufficient that you just notice—oh, after I shut my eyes, and I think about there’s a room there, that’s imaginary. I imply, I’m not saying there’s not a room, however there’s an image in your head. Similar factor with the concept consciousness is positioned in my head. That’s a psychological picture, and so for those who can, it’s a must to work on with the ability to discover that, so that you by no means actually need to separate them, as a result of it’s not actual. However, distinguishing, which is perhaps what you meant by separating, sure. After which, you simply really feel your stomach, and let go of the sort of psychological picture that there’s a highlight of consciousness in your head that’s beaming down on some chakra in your stomach. Noticing that it’s all simply in the best way, all of that’s simply additional mind vitality wasted. So, we let go of all that and are available into the stomach. May take some time to be taught to do it, however it’s not studying to do one thing new, it’s simply distinguishing. 

Questioner 5:  Okay. Thanks.

Michael: Okay, thanks to your questions all people, and for meditating with me, and we’ll see you subsequent week.

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