Nondual Meditation with Michael Taft
Meditation
Wow, obtained lots of people right here tonight. That’s nice. So let’s start just by checking in, not meditating, not doing something particular, simply tuning in to the way it feels to be you proper now, the ideas which are current, the feelings which are current, physique sensations which are current and easily permitting what’s ever there to be there. So we’re actually comprehensively simply noticing what it’s wish to be ourselves proper now and accepting that completely. No matter it seems like is ok, regardless of how terrible or let’s say explodingly too energetic, or one thing, no matter it’s, it’s all high-quality. However simply discover it. Be with what’s truly happening.
And now, I need you to seek out that almost all brokenhearted place inside your self, the saddest spot, and simply really feel that only for a second, the actually unhappy place, and simply let that be current with out attempting to vary it or management it or deny it. Discover that that’s there and that’s okay, and simply let which have its room, have its place.
Now, I’d such as you to start performing some deeper respiration, I’m gonna do some stomach respiration or no matter deep respiration works for you however the thought is just that you just do
a big in-breath after which a extremely lengthy exhale. So the exhale is for much longer than the inhale. That’s the essential half nevertheless it helps if it’s a pleasant stomach inhale to start with. Make it give you the results you want, don’t battle, don’t make the out breath so lengthy that it’s troublesome or uncomfortable, however we need to have a pleasant deep in-breath after which a extremely, actually lengthy out-breath. And so let’s be with simply that for some time collectively.
If you wish to, if it lets you keep centered, be certain that, in fact, that you just’re feeling the physique sensations of that in-breath very clearly and feeling the physique sensations of that out-breath very clearly. How’s that really feel in your stomach? How does that really feel in your rib cage? How does that really feel in your perineum? How’s that really feel all over the place? And noticing all of the sensations in-breath and out-breath. And if you wish to you’ll be able to label inhaling, ‘inhaling,’ for the in-breath, and respiration out, ‘respiration out,’ for the out-breath. So let’s simply be with that collectively for some time right here.
Really feel how good it feels to breathe. Physique actually likes to breathe. It’s going to assist should you really feel the start of every in-breath. Be sure you discover that second of the start of the in-breath and ensure you discover the second of the tip of the out-breath. They’re proper subsequent to one another however they’re totally different. Simply sink much more deeply into that breath.
It would really feel pretty. It would truly really feel form of painful. It would really feel plenty of alternative ways however simply let it really feel that approach. Nonetheless the breath feels is the precise approach for it to really feel proper now. Actually sink into that.
Good, now discover what’s noticing the breath, discover the noticing, discover this–the attention that’s current. and simply discover that that consciousness that’s current that’s conscious of the respiration could be very open, it’s very spacious, it’s boundaryless, it’s huge, it’s free. And I need you to primarily simply relaxation being that consciousness whereas permitting the breath sensation to easily come up and cross within the consciousness. So as a substitute of form of specializing in the breath, or specializing in the physique, we’re doing one thing totally different now, we’re merely resting as open consciousness inside which the wave of the breath rises and falls and consciousness notices that wave of the rising and falling breath with none effort, with none problem, it’s simply already conscious. So we’re nonetheless in a approach meditating on the breath however within the lightest attainable approach, primarily like 98% simply resting as consciousness with the breath merely rising and falling in consciousness. Let’s try this collectively now.
When you like meditating together with your eyes open, that’s kind of the standard approach to work it with this half, attempt to stay completely nonetheless, don’t transfer, don’t scratch, don’t shift, stay nonetheless. Discover that this spacious consciousness is already conscious. It requires no work to be awake. It’s already conscious of the sensation of the breath. So we’re simply resting in awakeness, feeling the breath, remaining uninvolved with considering however not preventing the considering, simply being the open consciousness noticing the breath. Consciousness is awake. Keep awake. When you’re having hassle staying awake, sit up, open your eyes. However, in fact, consciousness is awake it doesn’t matter what. It’s simply the thoughts that’s sleepy.
We’re resting exterior the thoughts, merely consciousness itself feeling the breath, resting in wakefulness, feeling the breath. In a technique we are able to discover how spectacularly peculiar this feels, not a particular state, not altered, merely resting as the attention that’s all the time current. It’s simple to enter an altered state, we do it on a regular basis however that normally serves as some form of leisure or distraction from this that’s right here on a regular basis, however wow have a look at this factor that’s right here on a regular basis. Let it see itself, consciousness seeing consciousness, consciousness displaying itself to itself. Discover that it has no boundary, it’s completely huge, unconstrained, not cramped, open, free, as huge because the sky with none effort. Discover that now. Relaxation in that vastness effortlessly now.
If it feels prefer it’s closing in or turning into cramped or tightening down simply chill out, discover it effortlessly comes again to openness, it’s all the time open. That is the pure state of consciousness and look, look proper now, not solely is it boundless–how lengthy has consciousness been right here? How lengthy has it been conscious? This eternal consciousness has been right here since beginningless time. It has no starting, it’s unbounded in area and unbounded in time. Look in your individual expertise, when did it begin? When did consciousness begin? Not in your reminiscence, not in concepts, not in ideas, however proper now. Look! When did consciousness begin?
It has all the time been conscious. That is the pure state of consciousness, boundless and timeless, however look much more intently, now, proper now, look in your individual expertise. Consciousness has no injury, consciousness has no trauma, consciousness has no scars, it’s completely excellent and pristine at each second. Our ideas and feelings and our bodies and spirits can have problem and injury and scars however consciousness itself by no means does. Completely pristine, all the time excellent, all the time completely healed in each second, and completely indestructible.
Look now. Discover your individual fully pristine, excellent, clear, undamaged, unsullied consciousness. Stay completely nonetheless, nonetheless means nonetheless, on this pure state, completely unaltered, completely regular state of consciousness. Discover the boundlessness, the timelessness, the perfection, the pristine high quality of consciousness. However look, proper now, in your individual expertise and see additionally the loving high quality of this consciousness which comes from its openness, rejects nothing, it accepts and welcomes all the pieces (partially as a result of it can’t be ever harmed in any approach.) It’s completely welcoming, completely accepting, completely loving. Discover that now.
Its huge open arms settle for each thought, each emotion. Every little thing that comes into consciousness is conscious, is seen, is observed. It’s deeply loving, that is the pure state of consciousness completely open, completely loving and accepting, rejecting nothing, greeting all the pieces. This consciousness is completely actual and but look, proper now, in your individual expertise. It’s not a factor. You can not make a factor out of it. It’s not an object in consciousness. Noticing doesn’t make an object out of noticing, it’s what’s noticing. It’s not a factor, this consciousness which is completely actual and but not a factor.
Discover now the place it comes from. The place is that this consciousness coming from? What’s the floor from which it springs? Look intently, you’ll discover there isn’t any floor. You may need concepts about the place consciousness arises from however these are simply ideas. When you look fastidiously in your individual expertise, proper now, you’ll see clearly it has no floor, it has no supply, it’s not itself resting on something, it’s groundless. Look now at this eternal, timeless, excellent, huge, loving, groundless consciousness and spot now that it’s what’s wanting.
Excellent. Now let’s let go of the meditation.
Dharma Discuss, Q&A
Discover that we’re not breaking away from some particular state, the attention continues to be there. The notice itself hasn’t modified. It’s completely simply the way in which it’s been and the factor that may get in the way in which with the way in which we’re working on this meditation is that if we begin to consider it, for instance, if I say one thing like, ‘consciousness is boundless or consciousness is huge,’ we are able to begin to do exactly actually form of two issues, we are able to both give it some thought or we are able to begin attempting to do one thing. So lots of people try and make their consciousness massive in some way, like pushing or form of increasing or no matter, identical to feeling like they’re wanting in several instructions and stuff like that. However that’s fully pointless. Consciousness is already huge, it’s already huge and should you’re not noticing that, it’s simply since you’re paying consideration proper now in a slim approach, however should you chill out it simply comes again to openness.
Or, if we’re enthusiastic about it, we are able to say one thing like, nicely, let’s see, your eyes are open, usually we might do a meditation like this with our eyes open, you don’t must however that’s form of conventional, you recognize, say one thing like, ‘it’s boundless,’ and also you’ll assume, ‘however I see a room round me so it’s bounded by a room,’ or ‘there’s a flooring.’ That’s an apparent boundary however we’re speaking about expertise right here and so what’s actually there’s a picture of a ceiling arising within the thoughts or a picture of a flooring and that’s not a boundary in any respect. By way of my sitting right here expertise, proper now, it’s just a few picture arising, proper? Identical factor after I say, ‘it’s timeless,’ we are able to have concepts of, ‘oh, it began as a result of my mind assembled in my mom’s womb,’ or no matter, cells got here collectively after which in some unspecified time in the future there was a–then a miracle occurs and there was you recognize this these knock-on results and in some way consciousness occurred however that’s an thought, proper? That’s a narrative, we’re telling ourselves about what occurred. And I’m not commenting about whether or not that occurred, or not. That’s not what we’re doing right here.
Reasonably, we’re wanting in our expertise, proper now, about what–to place it in a humorous approach–how lengthy does it really feel prefer it’s been there? Or appear to be it’s been there? And should you look, it feels prefer it’s been there both perpetually or that the query is unnecessary. These are form of the 2 solutions. They’re the identical reply, in a approach, if you wish to name them a solution. It’s like a divide-by-zero error or one thing, it simply doesn’t make sense to even ask that. It’s simply both all the time been there or it’s timeless in your direct expertise not concepts about it, not in attempting to speak about, you recognize, the science of improvement or one thing, we’re simply wanting instantly into expertise, the identical factor with the indestructibility of it, or the truth that it can’t be harm, it can’t be broken, that’s simply instantly noticeable. And naturally, human beings can have plenty of harm, plenty of wounding, plenty of scars, plenty of psychological points, trauma, and many others., however that isn’t within the consciousness. In order that’s not touching the attention. The notice is noticing that. The notice itself is all the time pristine. It’s by no means harm in any approach.
Don’t imagine me, have a look at the attention itself and spot that it’s boundless, discover that it’s timeless, discover that it can’t be harm, it’s indestructible. It’s one of many–if we obtained into some conventional language, we might say, it’s certainly one of its vajra qualities, it’s indestructible. That’s what vajra means, can’t be harmed. And similar with loving, I’d say it’s loving.
Typically you get plenty of pushback; however isn’t it impartial? How can it have a top quality? An emotional high quality? and many others. However I’m not speaking concerning the emotional high quality, though that’s associated to it, I’m speaking about its very openness, the truth that as a result of it could possibly’t be harm, it’s not attempting to push something away. The truth that consciousness simply is conscious of all the pieces that arises. It doesn’t simply filter out the stuff it doesn’t like and solely lets within the stuff it likes, it’s all the way in which open, all the way in which welcoming, all the way in which accepting, on a regular basis. The ideas and emotions won’t be. I would actually be having some ideas and emotions about stuff however consciousness itself? Extensive open, fully accepting, no judgment, completely loving.
And simply look, once more, don’t imagine me, look in your individual expertise, you’ll see it’s like that. Then the truly actually bizarre stuff comes subsequent like the truth that it’s not a factor. As quickly as I begin speaking about consciousness, you attempt to begin discovering a factor known as consciousness, and we’re saying phrases about it, we’re attempting to level consideration on the factor known as consciousness. However, in fact, it’s the place the ideas are arising, it’s what’s wanting. You possibly can by no means make a factor out of it. Nothing is a factor however we are able to nonetheless make issues out of them, proper? Actually they’re by no means a factor however we are able to try this with our thoughts. However you’ll be able to’t make consciousness right into a factor, it’s exterior of that, it’s by no means, ever, ever an object. Objects, if there are any, they come up inside it and cross away from it. However, in fact, they’re all made from consciousness too. So actually nothing is a factor.
After which the very, very–perhaps most difficult, most terrifying, most upsetting, however most deeply satisfying factor about consciousness is; there’s no floor. There’s no place to seek out the supply of it. You possibly can’t get to the tip of it. You possibly can’t resolve it. It’s not going to assist you to curl up and relaxation in your little cat mattress, you recognize, curled in a circle, loud night breathing, your toe beans hanging out like you will have 15 legs. It doesn’t try this. It’s, in a approach, all the time falling by area. It’s simply completely groundless. And that quantity of freedom is horrifying, at first, to the considering, feeling thoughts.
However finally, that quantity of freedom turns into the final word refuge, proper? The truth that it’s groundless, in that approach, is what’s so fantastic about it. It’s not dependent.
When, you recognize–if we speak in conventional languages about this high quality, they generally in English or western languages will use a phrase meaning enlightenment however that’s not the phrase, that’s not the precise translation. The interpretation into English is freedom or liberation, and that’s the liberty we’re speaking about, that groundlessness, absolute timeless not thingness of completely pure, crisp, huge open, loving, accepting consciousness.
Proper? That’s freedom and no matter ideas are arising, consciousness is ok, no matter emotions are arising, consciousness is ok. It’s not ignoring them as a result of it’s conscious, proper? However neither is it accepting and rejecting them or, let’s imagine, they’re all accepted. It’s not grabbing onto or rejecting them. And once more, don’t imagine me, it’s not like a perception system. Simply look. I’m simply stating what’s there so that you can discover about your individual consciousness and as a substitute it’s–we’re not doing it by concepts, I’ve to speak in concepts to form of level to it however should you strive to do that with concepts you’re in doing the mistaken factor, you’re like going about it incorrectly. It’s fairly, simply have a look at the attention itself with the attention itself. It’s direct, okay?
In order that’s what we’re as much as and that’s the, you recognize, freedom that’s out there. Discover it’s not some form of particular state. We are able to do meditations and get in very altered states, that’s high-quality however altered states come and go. This doesn’t come and go.
So questions, feedback, stories?
Questioner 1: So presumably a wierd report, however I observed that I used to be like regarding you
as like an indignant determine who’s gonna hit me if I transfer. Is that like–I had plenty of anger in the direction of you about it.
Michael: Superior. So discover that consciousness is ok with that, proper? You’re projecting anger onto me, you’re feeling anger again. Clearly, I’m not indignant at anybody for shifting. We agreed to all keep nonetheless earlier than we began nevertheless it’s not like I’m gonna come and hit you. On the similar time, we’re not in right here to have some good feelings and never different feelings, so if anger’s arising that’s fascinating, okay? That’s what’s occurring now. However in fact, I’ll by no means hit you.
Questioner 1: I really feel like I truly did want that in order that was useful.
Michael: I would simply come over there and actually yell at you. Possibly I’m taking that again.
Thanks on your report. I believe it’s fascinating to note that.
Questioner 2: That is my first time in your class. I’ve by no means tried this strategy to meditation earlier than, so while you instructed us simply to relaxation I used to be like, oh, what do I do? I don’t know what I’m doing. Possibly I’m simply bored.
Michael: So the reply is; simply relaxation, don’t do something, and should you’re bored then be bored. Okay? And there’s one thing that’s noticing the boredom, that’s what we’re actually right here for, okay? It’s not about, oh I should be in a state of doing one thing, as a result of we’re noticing the factor that wishes to do. It’s not that, oh I would like to interact my considering in order that I don’t have this emotion of boredom. It’s; discover that boredom is arising in consciousness, okay? Is that so dangerous? Be bored. However it’s; how have you learnt you’re bored?
How have you learnt you’re bored?
Questioner 2: I don’t know.
Michael: You don’t know. If you recognize it, okay. Properly, discover out, proper? Discover out whether or not you’re bored or not, and in case you are, how have you learnt? Proper? Simply look. Once more, meditation just isn’t leisure—so we’re not attempting to not be bored. Actually, if we’re tremendous bored, that is perhaps actually, actually fascinating. Okay, we’ll simply sit with that and spot that urge that wishes to fill the thoughts with new materials, what’s that masking up? If we’re bored for quite a lot of minutes what would possibly come up that we’ve been avoiding?
How have you learnt something? I’m asking you, how have you learnt something? Consider the phrase I’ve used about 600 instances on this meditation, perhaps 700, since you’re conscious of it, proper? The notice is central. So boredom is a state on the market that consciousness is noticing, that’s fascinating, okay? Whereas, if we tackle the ‘I’m the boredom’ that’s form of a misapprehension.
What else? Sure.
Questioner 2: Hey Michael, in my meditation observe however in my life, as nicely, I’ve
come throughout a standard theme of asking myself a query; when is motion applicable and when is inaction applicable? So for instance, in some meditation methods, they have you ever growing an intense concentrate on the breath and in different meditation methods, they really feel extra like this one, the place it’s form of identical to, settle into what’s all the time been there. What are sources I suppose you advocate on like not simply in meditation however deciding, usually like, when it’s high-quality when all the pieces is ok, there’s nothing to do, nowhere to go, and many others., and when, you recognize, to hop on the proverbial like hamster wheel, I suppose.
Michael: Let’s all be hamsters, collectively. Hamsters are cute. I like hamsters. I’ve a pleasant wheel, good secure wheel. Do you ever do any sports activities?
Questioner 2: Sure, Tae Kwon-do.
Michael: Okay, so you know the way in Tae Kwon-do you are able to do a roundhouse kick or you could possibly do a sidekick, proper? Which one do you have to do?
Questioner 2: It depends upon the context.
Michael: Yeah, or, you recognize, which one do you need to do? It’s not that one is correct and the opposite one’s mistaken. They’re simply various things you are able to do. So all over the place everyone seems to be claiming that they’ve the one proper meditation approach that everybody ought to do and I’m like, you recognize, that’s like saying my work all have the one true colour I exploit this excellent orange and the entire colours are banned from portray. Reasonably, you recognize, every approach or every even non-technique is suitable for what it’s applicable for, okay? And so perhaps that’s a non-answer when it comes to which one to do nevertheless it’s easy methods to strategy it and begin to work with which of them appear to be intuitively in tune with you, that they really feel extra applicable, they really feel like, oh after I try this form of meditation I really feel a bit extra at residence, and many others., and many others., and that’s a great way to start.
After which over time, you begin to get challenged with those that really feel rather less at residence however are price doing, and so forth, and little by little you develop your palette from simply this excellent orange. You get another colours in there and also you begin to have the ability to experiment. And so it’s on you, you recognize? And it’s when lecturers begin telling you that they know what you must try this I’d look out. Okay? Reasonably, it’s like hey, right here’s entry to instruments, right here’s some stuff you should utilize, right here’s cool methods to make use of them, right here’s the way in which I exploit them, and so forth, however nonetheless it’s your work with your self. Thanks.
Questioner 3: Sure, so in my meditation at this time after I observed that consciousness, I…
Michael: Who observed it? Or what observed it?
Questioner 3: I undoubtedly felt prefer it was nonetheless me. There was nonetheless a way of separation however like an appreciation for it and it felt like coronary heart opening and softening after which all these solutions got here in. It was like a really fruitful consciousness. After which I used to be experiencing plenty of bodily discomfort and I attempted to simply concentrate on that bodily discomfort.
Michael: That’s what we do.
Questioner 3: And I might do it however then I felt like I used to be free falling.
Yeah, it was a bit bit terrifying
Michael: Yeah! You’re doing it! That’s it! Bear in mind I stated it’s groundless, you’re falling, it’s terrifying, I used all of these phrases.
Questioner 3: yeah, it was terrifying after which after that, I began meditating with my eyes open, it was simpler to deal with in some way.
Michael: Yeah, normally that’s what I say, on this type, generally it’s simpler to have our eyes open. However discover regardless of how a lot you free fell by area or felt scared nothing dangerous truly occurred. You’re high-quality, proper?
And so, that is simply the phobia of a hen that’s been inside a tiny cage for like its complete life and it comes out of the cage and it’s like, Aaaaahhhh, there’s no cage! for only a minute, after which it’s like, Oh! Proper? You’ve heard me earlier than, I talked concerning the animal movies on Youtube, the place the–like for instance cows which have been caught in a dairy barn their complete life are out of the blue set free, and so they’re all at first form of, what’s that horrible blue factor up there? It’s so gigantic and at last, they’re like, Oh! They begin leaping round and, you recognize, you ever see cows soar? Or gamboling, proper? They’re simply working round and that’s the transfer.
So at first, it’s scary and it could possibly really feel like I stated, it’s groundless. You’ll really feel such as you’re falling since you’re used to imagining a floor however the consciousness is free! So what you’re feeling is free. And at first it’s simply scary however discover nothing dangerous occurs, so after a short time, you’re not scared anymore, and also you begin–the liberty a part of it turns into the actually salient half, but in addition it’s loving, proper? It’s actually tremendous secure. So yeah, so you probably did it! You’re getting there, proper? You observed it.
Questioner 3: Yeah, I imply being freed from that cage that’s completely useful.
Michael: Yeah, proper. So gambol while you get exterior. Do some gamboling. Different stories or questions?
All proper. Thanks for placing up with my completely irrational and super-intense want for you all to be nonetheless, and I hope to see you all subsequent week once we will be nonetheless collectively once more.
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