0:00:16.666,0:00:23.500 So I'm going to talk about the Jhanas. 0:00:23.500,0:00:27.710 The stages of meditative absorption. 0:00:27.958,0:00:32.041 And I want to kind of put them in context. 0:00:32.166,0:00:40.173 So these stages of absorption are [br]something that come from very 0:00:40.173,0:00:46.958 ancient traditions. So this is sort of [br]pre sectarian Buddhism 0:00:46.958,0:00:51.041 from the Upanishads you know, [br]long time ago. 0:00:51.083,0:01:00.188 So a lot of modern Buddhism,[br]is now about insight meditation. 0:01:00.625,0:01:03.625 There are still people teaching the Jhanas, 0:01:03.666,0:01:10.583 And often these things [br]are taught separately. 0:01:10.583,0:01:17.638 As if there are practices for the Jhanas[br]and practices for insight meditation. 0:01:18.083,0:01:23.125 Practices, for direct inquiry[br]or the non dual practices. 0:01:23.750,0:01:29.933 And I see them all at [br]a certain point converging 0:01:29.933,0:01:33.958 and I want to kind of point[br]in that direction. 0:01:35.083,0:01:42.500 That's where I'm going in this talk, and[br]I want to kind of make it clear that 0:01:42.500,0:01:48.833 these are all facets of what unfolds,[br]when we start to really inquire 0:01:48.875,0:01:53.166 or meditate, or whatever you want to call[br]this process we're engaged in here. 0:01:54.193,0:01:59.500 And so this is part of the landscape[br]or part of the phenomena. 0:02:00.375,0:02:09.485 And I'm going to go into the [br]Theravada sort of framework 0:02:09.958,0:02:17.041 of the Jhanas, just because it's [br]very thorough and complete. 0:02:17.041,0:02:19.958 But I don't consider it to be like a map. 0:02:19.958,0:02:22.958 I don't considered to be definitive. 0:02:23.625,0:02:27.291 People have awakenings without[br]encountering any of this stuff. 0:02:28.541,0:02:31.541 But I think it can be helpful[br]for some people, 0:02:33.333,0:02:37.955 especially when we're really going[br]into a meditation practice. 0:02:38.125,0:02:41.833 You know, the Jhanas are really [br]related to practice. 0:02:42.208,0:02:49.458 So as we're cultivating concentration, [br]attention, equanimity, 0:02:49.458,0:02:53.472 there are these stages[br]that seem to unfold. 0:02:54.583,0:02:59.791 So, we can also completely[br]forget about all this stuff. 0:02:59.791,0:03:04.708 And as Dogen said, we just sit. [br]Just sit and just be 0:03:05.083,0:03:09.416 and we can end up awakening[br]through that path as well. 0:03:09.958,0:03:13.890 So again, it always comes down to this[br]'Always being Buddha, 0:03:13.890,0:03:15.666 always becoming Buddha'. 0:03:15.666,0:03:22.108 This is a developmental process,[br]so it's unfolding through time. 0:03:22.291,0:03:25.291 So it's pertaining to the self structure, 0:03:25.500,0:03:29.340 but yet we can wake up[br]from the self structure at any time. 0:03:29.833,0:03:34.783 So with these Jhanas in our practice, 0:03:35.333,0:03:40.583 as we cultivate these meditation [br]skills, then we can, 0:03:40.583,0:03:46.000 jump into these different stages[br]of absorption more easily. 0:03:46.208,0:03:49.208 So the more advanced[br]we are in our practice, 0:03:49.375,0:03:52.833 the later the stages [br]we can just jump into. 0:03:52.833,0:03:55.916 So we don't have to go all [br]through them in every sit. 0:03:56.833,0:04:00.500 These are found in all different[br]traditions. 0:04:00.500,0:04:04.875 So, Patanjali talks about these[br]in the Yoga Sutras, 0:04:06.100,0:04:12.378 sometimes when people are talking[br]about stages of samadhi, 0:04:13.166,0:04:19.986 they're talking about the Jhanas, [br]basically. It's just different terminology 0:04:20.541,0:04:28.500 But sometimes Samadhi is used to refer to[br]the final awakening or the final merging 0:04:28.500,0:04:31.375 like Savikalpa or a Nirvikalpa. 0:04:31.375,0:04:37.500 But other times they divide up all these [br]different Samadhis, and when you get 0:04:37.500,0:04:44.125 into that, then it's the same as these[br]stages of of Jhanas absorption. 0:04:44.125,0:04:47.896 So I have Patanjali's teaching here, 0:04:49.656,0:04:56.605 and even in Christianity, the Christian [br]mystics have call it sometimes 0:04:56.605,0:05:04.965 the Religious Ecstasies. So there are [br]energetic unfolding in these Jhanas. 0:05:05.000,0:05:13.201 So if you listen or read the works of[br]Saint Teresa of Avila or Saint John of 0:05:13.201,0:05:19.333 the Cross or Saint Francis of Assisi, [br]you find these 0:05:19.333,0:05:23.125 these religious ecstasies[br]as they go deeper into prayer. 0:05:23.541,0:05:27.875 And there are these different [br]stages that unfold. 0:05:28.333,0:05:34.916 And they don't all exactly correlate.[br]But you get a sense that 0:05:34.916,0:05:39.920 it's the same landscape,[br]it's the same phenomena unfolding. 0:05:41.041,0:05:48.833 So in Patanjali's teachings, and the[br]last three limbs of yoga 0:05:48.833,0:05:55.971 are essentially what we're doing here in[br]this retreat. This is called Samyama, 0:05:57.505,0:06:06.083 there is Dharana, which is concentration[br]Dhyana, which is the meditation, 0:06:06.083,0:06:12.833 and then Samadhi which is sort of the[br]fruition of that practice. 0:06:14.642,0:06:23.632 So what he says, as we spoke about [br]previously, Dharana is the 0:06:23.632,0:06:29.750 fixing of consciousness on one point,[br]or one region, which is concentration. 0:06:29.750,0:06:32.750 So focusing on one point. 0:06:33.500,0:06:40.833 Then Dhyana is the continuous flow of[br]attention towards the same point or region 0:06:40.833,0:06:46.160 So that continuity through time[br]is the attention span. 0:06:46.166,0:06:53.751 And then he says, when the object of[br]meditation engulfs the meditator appearing 0:06:53.751,0:06:59.750 as the subject, self-awareness is lost.[br]and this is Samadhi. 0:06:59.750,0:07:04.250 So you you become one[br]with the meditation object. 0:07:04.250,0:07:07.250 So your your concentration and attention 0:07:07.375,0:07:14.071 becomes so focused, so single[br]pointed, that the distinguishing, 0:07:14.071,0:07:19.125 between subject and object falls away.[br]That duality falls away. 0:07:19.125,0:07:25.250 So there's just the breath, [br]and it's you essentially 0:07:25.250,0:07:30.160 or there's just whatever that [br]meditation object is. 0:07:32.875,0:07:40.583 So this is pointing towards the Jhanas,[br]this absorption, meditative absorption, 0:07:40.583,0:07:44.033 you becoming absorbed[br]in the meditation object. 0:07:44.333,0:07:48.641 So the first Jhana is... 0:07:49.625,0:07:53.875 you know, we start out in meditation[br]and we have the monkey mind, 0:07:54.083,0:07:58.991 it's busy, and we have these [br]hindrances that are coming up, 0:07:58.991,0:08:01.171 which we've been talking about. 0:08:01.171,0:08:07.871 And so the first, Jhana, is when that [br]monkey mind is settling down, 0:08:08.791,0:08:15.958 the hindrances are not a problem anymore.[br]We sort of move beyond the hindrances. 0:08:15.958,0:08:21.000 And we're not necessarily continuously 0:08:21.375,0:08:26.416 present with the meditation object, but[br]we're starting to really stick with it. 0:08:26.916,0:08:31.125 And so the monkey mind is settled down, 0:08:31.416,0:08:34.416 and we're generally [br]staying with the object. 0:08:34.916,0:08:40.416 So there's at this point, still [br]thoughts arising from time to time, 0:08:40.416,0:08:44.493 But generally you're you're doing [br]something that really looks 0:08:44.493,0:08:49.208 like meditation at this point.[br]You're actually sticking with it. 0:08:50.798,0:09:01.563 And so there's what they call Piti, in [br]Pali, starts to arise, which is an energy 0:09:01.708,0:09:06.416 So the energy that was going into these[br]old patterns starts to become present. 0:09:06.458,0:09:11.000 There's this feeling of of energy[br]and a generally feels good. 0:09:11.208,0:09:14.208 It's it's a good feeling at this point. 0:09:17.151,0:09:24.528 And so we start to go deeper and so the[br]Dukkah at the beginning, 0:09:24.528,0:09:29.705 that unsatisfactoryness, because of the[br]hindrances, is starting to fall away. 0:09:29.750,0:09:36.500 and then this satisfactoryness starts to[br]grow. So this is called Sukha. 0:09:36.500,0:09:44.833 So we have Dukkha and Sukha. So this [br]Sukha also sort of comes and goes as well. 0:09:44.833,0:09:48.833 Sometimes it'll be there,[br]sometimes it isn't there. 0:09:49.166,0:09:52.833 And so this is a really important point. 0:09:52.833,0:09:59.564 A lot of people really stall out,[br]they get what Shinzen Young calls 0:09:59.564,0:10:01.793 'Stuck in a good place'. 0:10:02.138,0:10:08.500 So there is this satisfactoryness that comes. 0:10:08.500,0:10:14.458 And what happens is we can start to play [br]this game of sensation. 0:10:14.958,0:10:22.041 So so with the hindrances, [br]we can learn to surrender. 0:10:22.041,0:10:26.791 We're not labeling our pain [br]as pain anymore. 0:10:26.791,0:10:29.958 We're just, being equanimous with what is. 0:10:30.375,0:10:38.691 And then we find that it produces[br]this kind of bliss or satisfactoryness. 0:10:40.375,0:10:44.708 And so we can start seeking that. 0:10:44.708,0:10:54.866 So the so the good blissful feelings [br]will be there and then they'll subside, 0:10:54.866,0:10:57.581 and then we'll be craving[br]to get them back again. 0:10:57.708,0:11:01.250 And, there's this game of sensation. 0:11:01.250,0:11:08.741 So there's this subtle seeking in the mind[br]of wanting that state or that bliss. 0:11:12.166,0:11:15.710 We don't progress beyond the second Jana 0:11:15.710,0:11:21.708 until we really have no preference [br]towards that Sukah. 0:11:21.708,0:11:25.916 until we're willing to let [br]that phenomena come and go. 0:11:26.875,0:11:34.875 So, even that bliss that is born out [br]of progress in our meditation, 0:11:34.875,0:11:39.360 we're really surrendering, if that's [br]coming, can just become 0:11:39.360,0:11:42.390 another prison or another attachment. 0:11:42.458,0:11:45.458 So we have to even let that go. 0:11:45.583,0:11:53.291 And so the next stage, the third stage,[br]is really being equanimous. 0:11:53.291,0:11:58.708 We're really being sort of grounded[br]in equanimity, 0:11:59.333,0:12:03.750 having no preference of any phenomena[br]that's coming and going. 0:12:04.375,0:12:13.250 And it's with this equanimity, if we [br]can really be okay with whatever 0:12:13.250,0:12:17.916 is coming up in our practice,[br]this equanimity kind of goes hand in hand 0:12:18.333,0:12:25.866 with the next thing that arises, [br]and that is true single pointedness. 0:12:25.958,0:12:29.791 That's the true[br]single point us where you're really there 0:12:30.250,0:12:33.208 continuously with your meditation objects. 0:12:33.208,0:12:35.458 So there's there's no more break. 0:12:35.458,0:12:36.958 So it's like what 0:12:37.916,0:12:38.666 Patanjali 0:12:38.666,0:12:41.666 was was talking about[br]that continuous attention 0:12:41.833,0:12:44.833 that leads to somebody and 0:12:45.750,0:12:47.583 you know so so these so 0:12:47.583,0:12:50.583 that that will lead into the fourth 0:12:50.583,0:12:54.916 genre which, which is,[br]you know, it's sort of characterized 0:12:54.916,0:12:59.541 by this feeling[br]that you can meditate forever. 0:12:59.875,0:13:03.041 There's there's just this, this feeling[br]that there 0:13:03.416,0:13:06.791 there's, there's, you know, total 0:13:06.791,0:13:09.791 focus, total presence. And, 0:13:11.458,0:13:15.208 you know, just this[br]this energy is present because the 0:13:15.208,0:13:19.333 the energy now is single pointed[br]or the focus a single point. 0:13:19.333,0:13:23.625 And so that that energy, you know,[br]all of that energy that's normally going 0:13:23.625,0:13:27.375 into the conditioned mind becomes present[br]and it's somehow 0:13:27.875,0:13:30.875 supports this 0:13:31.375,0:13:33.833 this single pointed 0:13:33.833,0:13:36.333 presence with your meditation object. 0:13:36.333,0:13:39.666 So there's so[br]this is the point at which that 0:13:39.666,0:13:44.916 that merging starts to happen[br]or that somebody state happens. 0:13:45.833,0:13:47.666 And I'm going to read 0:13:49.000,0:13:51.416 this is 0:13:51.416,0:13:53.791 from the Buddha himself. 0:13:53.791,0:13:57.916 So this is on on his[br]his night of enlightenment. 0:13:57.916,0:14:00.291 And he's he's talking about the dryness. 0:14:00.291,0:14:03.833 He's talking[br]about how he he's going into the dryness. 0:14:03.833,0:14:08.125 And so he's at this point where he says 0:14:08.541,0:14:13.958 tireless energy was aroused[br]and be and unrelenting. 0:14:14.125,0:14:17.125 Mindfulness was established. 0:14:17.250,0:14:20.041 My body was tranquil and untroubled 0:14:20.041,0:14:24.166 and my mind concentrated and unified, 0:14:25.541,0:14:28.500 quite secluded from central pleasures, 0:14:28.500,0:14:31.500 secluded from unwholesome states. 0:14:31.500,0:14:35.750 I entered upon[br]and abided in the first John. 0:14:36.291,0:14:38.500 The second John. The third. John. 0:14:38.500,0:14:39.833 The fourth. 0:14:39.833,0:14:42.166 And so on. 0:14:42.166,0:14:45.166 So he he talks about how, 0:14:45.208,0:14:48.208 you know, this is this is his his big, 0:14:48.250,0:14:52.416 you know, sitting under the body tree,[br]you know, really going for it. 0:14:52.416,0:14:55.833 He he had that[br]that absolute determination. 0:14:55.833,0:14:57.625 You know, the story goes that he 0:14:58.750,0:15:00.500 he decided he was 0:15:00.500,0:15:04.625 he was going to sit under that tree[br]until he got to the truth. 0:15:05.000,0:15:07.166 Whatever happened, 0:15:07.166,0:15:10.166 he was going to be unrelenting in that. 0:15:10.958,0:15:12.333 And you know what? 0:15:12.333,0:15:17.791 What really stands out to me is, you know,[br]unrelenting mindfulness was established, 0:15:18.875,0:15:21.875 you know, tireless energy was aroused. 0:15:21.958,0:15:24.958 You know, So so this is the dryness. 0:15:28.291,0:15:28.708 Yeah. 0:15:28.708,0:15:31.458 So as as we go 0:15:31.458,0:15:34.291 deeper in our practice, 0:15:34.291,0:15:37.291 you know, we we, 0:15:37.333,0:15:39.500 we have these capabilities, 0:15:39.500,0:15:43.666 you know,[br]the attention, concentration, equanimity, 0:15:43.666,0:15:49.708 these, these literally get[br]wired in to this avatar and 0:15:51.750,0:15:52.958 so we can, you know, 0:15:52.958,0:15:55.958 it's like our baseline of, 0:15:56.500,0:15:58.666 you know, meditative capacity 0:15:58.666,0:16:02.333 just gets increased as we 0:16:03.625,0:16:06.625 as we progress through the dramas. 0:16:06.958,0:16:12.166 So one of one of the things, you know,[br]that is described 0:16:12.166,0:16:15.958 in the teachings[br]of the mystics is that we're, 0:16:17.041,0:16:18.208 you know, as we progress 0:16:18.208,0:16:21.375 on the path, you know, and every stage 0:16:21.625,0:16:24.666 there's this sort of dropping off of mind, 0:16:25.208,0:16:28.458 you know,[br]and there's there's an increase in 0:16:29.458,0:16:31.958 sort of the benefit of that dropping off. 0:16:31.958,0:16:34.958 So we we go deeper into these 0:16:35.791,0:16:38.791 feelings of joy or 0:16:39.208,0:16:43.250 energy or ecstasy, rapture. 0:16:43.666,0:16:48.416 And the deeper we go, you know,[br]the more beautiful these experiences are. 0:16:48.791,0:16:53.458 And and simultaneously,[br]the more sticky they are, because, 0:16:53.750,0:16:57.833 you know, the more beautiful,[br]like when the real rapture 0:16:58.500,0:17:04.375 starts to come, you know, the[br]these non dual experiences of, 0:17:04.375,0:17:07.791 of being one with God, you know, these, 0:17:08.208,0:17:11.208 these are everything in our being wants[br]to stay there. 0:17:11.541,0:17:15.000 And so to be a quantum us with that as a 0:17:15.000,0:17:18.000 as a temporary state is 0:17:18.125,0:17:22.208 is challenging[br]it's it's very challenging. So, 0:17:23.333,0:17:24.541 so it's like the 0:17:24.541,0:17:28.458 the stakes get higher[br]as we as we go further with the dryness. 0:17:28.458,0:17:31.458 It gets, it gets very 0:17:32.375,0:17:36.333 difficult for the mind to not be attached. 0:17:37.333,0:17:40.875 So indirect inquiry, you know, we 0:17:41.791,0:17:46.125 you know, we intend to directly experience[br]our true nature. 0:17:46.125,0:17:49.375 So we're not[br]you know, it's always in the now we're not 0:17:49.375,0:17:52.375 we're not progressing[br]through these these different stages. 0:17:52.708,0:17:57.416 And and when we awaken, you know,[br]we we find, 0:17:58.166,0:18:03.041 you know, a peace and a joy and happiness 0:18:03.041,0:18:08.583 that is not contingent on[br]anything on anything external. 0:18:08.583,0:18:11.625 So and so in all of these genres, 0:18:12.541,0:18:16.083 all of the experiences that come and go 0:18:17.125,0:18:20.125 are temporary. 0:18:20.458,0:18:23.291 You know, they're all contingent on, 0:18:23.291,0:18:26.291 you know, this this 0:18:26.750,0:18:29.000 practice that we're doing, you know, this 0:18:29.000,0:18:32.541 letting go and this dropping off of mind. 0:18:32.791,0:18:36.416 But eventually,[br]you know, when we when we go 0:18:37.458,0:18:38.333 to the end of 0:18:38.333,0:18:41.375 the john, as you know, like[br]the first for John is are 0:18:42.083,0:18:44.541 what they call the material genres, 0:18:44.541,0:18:48.833 which are pretty equivalent[br]to the Salva culpa. 0:18:48.833,0:18:51.833 Somebody you know, sometimes it's called 0:18:52.125,0:18:55.041 somebody with a seed. 0:18:55.041,0:18:58.791 So there's a seed of of form, 0:18:59.125,0:19:02.000 there's a seed of pattern there. 0:19:02.000,0:19:04.500 So so it's temporary. 0:19:04.500,0:19:07.250 So it's, you know,[br]the pattern will grow back. 0:19:07.250,0:19:10.250 Basically, the seed is still there. 0:19:10.500,0:19:12.416 So the the there are 0:19:12.416,0:19:16.541 so they call those the[br]the in the the material Johnny's 0:19:16.833,0:19:19.833 you know, material having to do with form 0:19:20.166,0:19:23.166 and the material genres are, 0:19:24.125,0:19:29.125 you know, when we when we enter into that[br]Sarva kalpa somebody state so we, 0:19:29.125,0:19:32.125 we merge with our meditation object, 0:19:32.333,0:19:34.916 then there can be the dropping away 0:19:34.916,0:19:40.041 of, of the mind and body[br]and we enter into the immaterial genres. 0:19:41.125,0:19:41.791 So there are 0:19:41.791,0:19:45.958 four immaterial genres[br]and I'm not going to really talk 0:19:45.958,0:19:50.166 about those because they're,[br]they're not really good to talk about. 0:19:50.291,0:19:53.875 They're their best left for,[br]for direct experience. 0:19:54.416,0:19:57.708 But I'll just say what what they're,[br]what they are. 0:19:57.750,0:20:00.750 So the, the first one is 0:20:01.000,0:20:02.666 infinite space. 0:20:02.666,0:20:06.041 So there's, there's, there's[br]still a sense of infinite space 0:20:06.458,0:20:08.666 and then that will drop away. 0:20:08.666,0:20:11.500 And there's there's a sense 0:20:11.500,0:20:14.500 that that infinite space is infinite. 0:20:14.666,0:20:17.416 Actually, infinite conscious ness. 0:20:17.416,0:20:21.500 And, and that infinite consciousness drops 0:20:21.500,0:20:27.750 away into this even more subtle,[br]no thing thinness. 0:20:28.875,0:20:31.875 And that no thinness drops away 0:20:32.208,0:20:36.875 into what they call[br]neither perception or non 0:20:36.875,0:20:40.250 perception, you know,[br]So it's getting pretty abstract here. 0:20:40.875,0:20:43.875 And and, you know, these 0:20:43.916,0:20:47.250 and these are you know,[br]you don't have to learn these things. 0:20:47.250,0:20:50.833 These are just,[br]you know, phenomena that that unfold 0:20:51.625,0:20:55.208 naturally as as a result of practice. 0:20:57.041,0:20:58.250 And so so, 0:20:58.250,0:21:01.583 you know, hanging out in either perception[br]or non perception. 0:21:02.041,0:21:05.041 Then the final sort of 0:21:06.083,0:21:08.333 realization in that genre 0:21:08.333,0:21:11.333 progression is what they call 0:21:11.333,0:21:14.333 neuro, the summer party, which is 0:21:15.333,0:21:18.250 that's what the Buddha experience. 0:21:18.250,0:21:22.583 So it's a very rare phenomenon where 0:21:24.750,0:21:26.666 the the being that 0:21:26.666,0:21:29.833 that enters into that it's when they 0:21:30.458,0:21:35.125 they're able to meditate[br]for an insanely long periods of time. 0:21:35.125,0:21:39.625 So they go into essentially[br]a meditative state for four weeks 0:21:39.625,0:21:43.708 and basically burn off[br]all the rest of their karma. 0:21:43.791,0:21:46.250 So nobody does. 0:21:46.250,0:21:51.000 So it's like it's very rare, but it's a[br]thing, you know, it's a it's a thing. 0:21:51.000,0:21:54.000 And some of the the great, 0:21:54.916,0:21:57.916 you know, masters[br]have, have experienced that. 0:21:58.708,0:21:59.166 Yeah. 0:21:59.166,0:22:02.166 So, so the convergence of, 0:22:03.083,0:22:05.833 you know, it's in its not total 0:22:05.833,0:22:09.000 dropping off of mind and body 0:22:09.541,0:22:15.041 and you know it's realizing[br]what remains in that state 0:22:15.583,0:22:20.500 and no one can tell you what remains[br]in that state and you have to realize it. 0:22:22.291,0:22:25.916 So, so this is where, you know,[br]the direct path 0:22:25.916,0:22:31.250 and the Jana path converge[br]is in that final realization. 0:22:31.250,0:22:34.416 They're both[br]they're both coming to the same place. 0:22:35.333,0:22:37.708 So it ultimately doesn't 0:22:37.708,0:22:42.916 really matter if you are just sitting[br]you know, if you're just sitting, 0:22:43.250,0:22:46.041 you're going to go through all this stuff[br]anyway. 0:22:46.041,0:22:50.500 You know, whatever's in the unconscious[br]is going to present itself. 0:22:50.833,0:22:52.916 Energy will be freed. 0:22:52.916,0:22:55.916 These these stages of bliss[br]and all this stuff. 0:22:56.250,0:23:00.375 And, you know, some people experience it,[br]you know, really strong energy 0:23:00.750,0:23:04.958 and other people,[br]you know, have different phenomena. 0:23:05.000,0:23:08.000 They have different different[br]learning goals or, 0:23:09.625,0:23:12.625 you know, different ways 0:23:12.708,0:23:16.666 that that letting go of pattern[br]will manifest 0:23:16.666,0:23:19.666 in experience. 0:23:19.750,0:23:22.458 So so not everybody, you know, 0:23:22.458,0:23:26.833 there is this in Buddhism,[br]they call it the dry path. 0:23:26.833,0:23:30.750 You know, the the inside path[br]where you don't 0:23:30.750,0:23:34.583 necessarily[br]go through, you know, rapture and, 0:23:35.750,0:23:36.500 you know, this, 0:23:36.500,0:23:39.750 this unfolding of Kundalini[br]and all this stuff. 0:23:40.375,0:23:43.500 It's possible[br]for this flip to happen in a in a 0:23:44.125,0:23:47.750 just a more direct way[br]without this unfolding. 0:23:48.333,0:23:49.958 So it's kind of mysterious. 0:23:49.958,0:23:51.583 I'm not sure why that is. 0:23:51.583,0:23:54.125 Some people 0:23:54.125,0:23:56.333 know they have all, all the bells[br]and whistles 0:23:56.333,0:23:59.333 on them, on the path and, and 0:24:00.416,0:24:05.875 this, this whole unfolding of genres[br]and for other people 0:24:06.625,0:24:09.625 it's it's not necessarily 0:24:11.708,0:24:16.166 yeah so any questions 0:24:16.166,0:24:19.166 about that before we 0:24:19.583,0:24:22.083 move on, 0:24:22.083,0:24:24.000 I have a question about. 0:24:24.000,0:24:24.625 Mm hmm. 0:24:24.625,0:24:28.166 Disturbing to hear you say that[br]the current gets burned off very, 0:24:28.458,0:24:32.041 very end instead of is there no 0:24:33.125,0:24:36.166 processing and working with karma 0:24:36.166,0:24:39.166 along the path along the way or. 0:24:39.750,0:24:41.166 No, but everything that we're doing, 0:24:41.166,0:24:44.208 all this purification[br]of Sam scars, this is all 0:24:46.208,0:24:47.500 you could say. 0:24:47.500,0:24:50.500 Purifying or becoming free of karma. 0:24:50.875,0:24:53.375 Yeah, of course. Yeah. 0:24:53.375,0:24:54.208 To me, that's. 0:24:54.208,0:24:54.958 That's all. 0:24:54.958,0:24:59.125 It's all what we're doing every time[br]we're we're seeing, 0:24:59.166,0:25:03.750 you know, a big mind pattern[br]and we're able to let it go. 0:25:04.333,0:25:04.833 We're. 0:25:04.833,0:25:08.416 Yeah, we're becoming free of that karma,[br]you know? 0:25:08.416,0:25:14.750 And there's an interesting thing[br]with karma, you know, for me, like. 0:25:14.750,0:25:19.166 Like when we finally have that flip[br]to awareness, 0:25:19.250,0:25:24.458 you know, where we realize, like,[br]I'm actually not this, this character 0:25:25.083,0:25:28.041 that is going through this whole process. 0:25:28.041,0:25:31.708 You know, the crazy thing is[br]that awareness 0:25:31.708,0:25:34.916 was never bound at all by karma. 0:25:34.916,0:25:37.083 It was never touched by karma. 0:25:37.083,0:25:40.625 So so yeah, so,[br]so the whole thing with karma 0:25:40.625,0:25:45.416 is kind of a red herring,[br]you know, like it's, it's like it's 0:25:45.416,0:25:49.791 seems like there's something to do there,[br]but yet when that flip happens, 0:25:49.791,0:25:53.291 it's like a awareness[br]was was never bound in the first place. 0:25:53.875,0:25:57.375 So, you know, who does karma belong to? 0:25:57.375,0:25:59.250 It belongs to the character. 0:25:59.250,0:26:03.166 So it's, it's kind of ridiculous,[br]you know, 0:26:03.625,0:26:06.000 the whole the whole worry about karma. 0:26:06.000,0:26:11.291 And, you know, there's this whole thing[br]in Buddhism about about one's returners 0:26:11.291,0:26:17.125 and, and, you know, like, you know,[br]coming back and like, who comes back? 0:26:17.208,0:26:21.916 You know, it's it's all awareness[br]playing hide and seek this one awareness. 0:26:21.916,0:26:24.958 So to me, it's a it's a little bit of a, 0:26:25.291,0:26:28.500 a non-issue, you know? Yeah, 0:26:29.541,0:26:30.000 yeah. 0:26:30.000,0:26:30.833 Good. 0:26:30.833,0:26:33.833 Yeah, yeah, 0:26:33.833,0:26:35.708 yeah. 0:26:35.708,0:26:39.666 In the military go quite deep in, 0:26:41.083,0:26:44.041 in our meditation practice more easily 0:26:44.041,0:26:49.333 because we're like stuck in the retreat[br]and you know, it's no escape for the mind. 0:26:49.333,0:26:51.166 Mean all that. 0:26:51.166,0:26:54.166 And as, as the retreat progresses, 0:26:54.500,0:26:56.875 the mind is quieter and quieter, 0:26:56.875,0:27:00.083 so it goes further in communication. 0:27:00.750,0:27:02.625 My question is, 0:27:02.625,0:27:06.125 when we get out of this retreat,[br]like I meditate, 0:27:06.125,0:27:10.458 it's interesting when our enough is 0:27:10.458,0:27:13.458 it is it going to 0:27:13.750,0:27:16.750 is this death, this profound 0:27:18.291,0:27:18.916 experience? 0:27:18.916,0:27:21.208 Is this can we 0:27:21.208,0:27:26.250 just in an hour a day and then, you know,[br]all the rest of your life going on? 0:27:26.291,0:27:28.166 You have all your worries? 0:27:28.166,0:27:29.000 Mm hmm. 0:27:29.000,0:27:29.541 Yeah. 0:27:29.541,0:27:33.333 It's that's the question that always comes[br]up. And. 0:27:33.875,0:27:36.500 Yeah, so, you know, the truth is 0:27:37.583,0:27:40.583 and, you know, this[br]is something we talk about all the time. 0:27:40.583,0:27:43.041 You know, it's it's, 0:27:43.041,0:27:45.208 you know, we have 0:27:45.208,0:27:47.375 awakenings, you know, we put ourselves 0:27:47.375,0:27:50.875 in these conditions of no escape[br]and then go back to life. 0:27:51.333,0:27:55.375 And like, the truth is,[br]it doesn't always get easier. 0:27:55.416,0:28:01.916 It actually, you know,[br]we get very sensitized to the pattern. 0:28:01.916,0:28:05.416 We can see the patterns so clearly,[br]you know, like 0:28:05.541,0:28:09.875 so when you know who you are, you know,[br]you're not that conditioned mind. 0:28:10.208,0:28:14.291 But yeah, there's still some scars[br]or so patterns in play. 0:28:14.291,0:28:17.500 There's just still,[br]you know, like, like the 0:28:17.541,0:28:21.708 the character goes back to life. So, 0:28:22.750,0:28:27.416 so it becomes very,[br]very clear that those patterns are there 0:28:27.416,0:28:30.500 and we feel them fully[br]when we go back to life. 0:28:31.000,0:28:32.375 So in some ways, 0:28:33.375,0:28:33.708 you know, 0:28:33.708,0:28:37.125 I always say it's the beginning of a, 0:28:37.708,0:28:42.625 you know,[br]a really accelerated purification process. 0:28:42.625,0:28:46.750 And when we go back to life[br]because we feel and see whatever 0:28:46.875,0:28:51.291 is remaining to be purified[br]and it'll it'll be more obvious. 0:28:51.291,0:28:54.291 It'll come up more clearly. 0:28:55.041,0:28:58.041 So but at the same time, like, 0:28:58.291,0:29:01.291 you know, so the key for for coming 0:29:01.291,0:29:04.333 to, you know, a practice like this 0:29:04.625,0:29:09.500 and doing this and finding out the truth,[br]you know, that 0:29:09.875,0:29:13.625 that conditioned mind[br]that was seeking and doing something 0:29:14.583,0:29:17.000 isn't you and that it can't do it, 0:29:17.000,0:29:20.750 it has to drop away and essentially fail. 0:29:21.166,0:29:24.083 So so the main difference 0:29:24.083,0:29:27.458 is the end of seeking[br]you know, there's no more seeking. 0:29:27.458,0:29:30.500 You don't need to be seeking anything[br]when you go back to life. 0:29:30.791,0:29:32.291 You don't need to be 0:29:33.291,0:29:34.375 searching for who you 0:29:34.375,0:29:37.625 are because who you are[br]is always right here. 0:29:38.166,0:29:41.708 You know, it's it's[br]got that fundamental delusion 0:29:41.708,0:29:44.875 of the mind that it has to do something. 0:29:45.250,0:29:50.250 You know, or, you know, that the[br]the piece that I'm feeling in this, 0:29:50.583,0:29:56.166 you know, meditation retreat, you know,[br]the mind will always go, it's so sneaky. 0:29:56.333,0:29:59.333 It will just say, how do I keep it? 0:29:59.458,0:30:01.333 How do I hold onto it? 0:30:01.333,0:30:05.666 You know, the mind is saying that always,[br]you know, like how do I hold it? 0:30:05.791,0:30:07.500 How do I integrate it? 0:30:07.500,0:30:08.083 You know? 0:30:08.083,0:30:11.125 But that's the delusion of the mind,[br]right? 0:30:11.125,0:30:13.083 Like the mind can't do it. 0:30:13.083,0:30:16.333 There's nothing the mind needs to do. 0:30:16.500,0:30:20.625 So we can we can go back into life and and 0:30:21.750,0:30:24.666 operate the[br]same way we're operating in this retreat. 0:30:24.666,0:30:26.250 Just let it happen. 0:30:26.250,0:30:27.750 Just let it unfold. 0:30:27.750,0:30:31.958 You know that that purification[br]is going to happen 0:30:31.958,0:30:35.791 just by you being you just by being. 0:30:36.416,0:30:38.666 Yeah, yeah, 0:30:38.666,0:30:40.166 yeah, 0:30:40.166,0:30:40.375 yeah. 0:30:40.375,0:30:45.458 So, you know, the truth[br]is, it's it's not an easy ride always. 0:30:45.458,0:30:49.250 You know, we we go back,[br]we fall, fall, and, you know, 0:30:49.333,0:30:55.708 we get snagged over and over,[br]you know, we fall into a pattern, 0:30:55.791,0:31:00.041 you know, we then, then we realize[br]who's falling into pattern or what's, 0:31:00.666,0:31:06.500 what's happening and yeah, and it's and[br]this is part of that purification process. 0:31:06.500,0:31:10.250 And, you know,[br]by coming back into being over and over, 0:31:10.250,0:31:13.250 there's this purification that happens 0:31:13.333,0:31:16.166 and eventually the outer life 0:31:16.166,0:31:19.458 will, you know, will rearrange in 0:31:19.541,0:31:24.208 as a reflection[br]of more true expression of who we are. 0:31:25.208,0:31:26.250 Yeah. 0:31:26.250,0:31:29.458 So the quest to change[br]the perspective is to know where you are. 0:31:30.791,0:31:31.791 Just. 0:31:31.791,0:31:33.833 Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that. 0:31:33.833,0:31:36.166 And that 0:31:36.166,0:31:40.250 and that and that energy, you know,[br]that is alive as well. 0:31:40.250,0:31:45.750 Like that sensitizes you to you know[br]like the, the, a lot of the, 0:31:45.916,0:31:50.750 the big patterns that need to shift[br]in the outer world become so obvious 0:31:51.083,0:31:55.833 that you can't put[br]you know you can't go back in that box 0:31:55.833,0:31:59.458 right like the energy is is out now[br]and it's free 0:31:59.750,0:32:05.125 so it's like it's really obvious[br]and so it's not even a choice anymore. 0:32:05.291,0:32:09.291 You know, it's it's like the energy is is[br]has made the choice for you. 0:32:09.791,0:32:11.583 Yeah. 0:32:11.583,0:32:12.041 Thank you. 0:32:12.041,0:32:14.708 It's very, very helpful. 0:32:14.708,0:32:17.708 Extremely helpful. 0:32:18.666,0:32:21.666 Thank you. 0:32:25.250,0:32:28.083 You remembering your this 0:32:29.416,0:32:33.000 film of your hand and my hands here. 0:32:33.375,0:32:36.375 Yeah, yeah, about that. 0:32:36.833,0:32:39.291 Because I was asking the same question. 0:32:39.291,0:32:42.500 It's like, yeah, saying that is fine by me 0:32:42.833,0:32:45.833 because everyone is like thinking[br]I'm asking, 0:32:46.708,0:32:48.375 you know. Yeah. 0:32:48.375,0:32:51.000 And as I remember that, I love that 0:32:51.000,0:32:54.000 the filmmakers of the story itself, 0:32:55.125,0:32:58.125 the a disappointment or, 0:32:58.708,0:33:01.166 you know, the the battle took in on that 0:33:01.166,0:33:04.166 he went to the end in that game 0:33:04.250,0:33:06.916 just didn't and 0:33:06.916,0:33:09.916 didn't buying the piece[br]and all the other time 0:33:11.333,0:33:16.666 like going right by that kind[br]you need to be in America 0:33:16.666,0:33:21.500 you need to be in this piece[br]calls for it because 0:33:22.750,0:33:24.291 you need to. 0:33:24.291,0:33:27.291 You got them like in the end, 0:33:27.833,0:33:29.541 because he wasn't a kid, 0:33:29.541,0:33:33.708 because he was doing his lessons[br]in a normal life. 0:33:33.875,0:33:37.375 Yeah. Yeah. That's, yeah. Where they can 0:33:38.833,0:33:40.250 become like them. 0:33:40.250,0:33:43.041 And is this the same question? 0:33:43.041,0:33:45.000 So just sharing. 0:33:45.000,0:33:45.791 Yeah. 0:33:45.791,0:33:48.875 This film's beautiful[br]and experience completely. 0:33:48.916,0:33:50.250 And how could you have. 0:33:50.250,0:33:52.375 Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right. 0:33:52.375,0:33:53.083 Yeah. 0:33:53.083,0:33:58.791 And explain completely this part of[br]being the, you know, the things. 0:34:00.083,0:34:02.708 Yeah, yeah, that's it. 0:34:02.708,0:34:03.291 That's it. 0:34:03.291,0:34:06.541 So it's different for everyone,[br]you know, the that 0:34:07.416,0:34:11.375 flowering of the, the lotus or whatever[br]you want to call it, you know, it's like 0:34:11.708,0:34:17.250 he, he listen to that direction,[br]you know, he knew something in him 0:34:17.583,0:34:23.000 was saying he had to go to America[br]and that was clear, 0:34:23.000,0:34:26.875 That was his path and he he listened[br]he aligned with that energy. 0:34:27.375,0:34:30.291 And and that's that is enlightenment.[br]Yeah. 0:34:30.291,0:34:34.541 When we aligned with that inner direction[br]that, uh, yeah. 0:34:34.541,0:34:36.208 Whereas for somebody else, 0:34:36.208,0:34:40.500 maybe it is going in that cave, you know,[br]maybe that's their, their path, Right. 0:34:40.500,0:34:45.666 So we just never know, you know,[br]or it could be absolutely anything, 0:34:45.875,0:34:51.875 you know, it could be, you know,[br]being an artist where we, we, you express 0:34:51.875,0:34:55.875 what's coming through in, you know,[br]or a musician or whatever, you know. 0:34:56.458,0:34:57.458 Yeah. 0:34:57.458,0:34:57.875 Yeah. 0:34:57.875,0:35:01.250 So, yeah, it's just that willingness to 0:35:03.083,0:35:06.833 just follow and trust that inner guidance. 0:35:07.250,0:35:08.833 And it's so simple. 0:35:08.833,0:35:11.208 It's just what excites us. 0:35:11.208,0:35:12.625 That's all it is. 0:35:12.625,0:35:15.625 You know, It's very childlike, really. 0:35:15.625,0:35:20.958 It's not, you know, it's sometimes people,[br]you know, at the end of the retreat, 0:35:20.958,0:35:24.041 they'll, they'll be like, okay,[br]I know who I am, but what's my purpose? 0:35:24.416,0:35:28.291 You know, and, and, and it's it's like,[br]you know, 0:35:28.875,0:35:32.166 that's[br]that's such a burden to have a purpose. 0:35:32.500,0:35:35.333 You know,[br]it's like a projection into the future. 0:35:35.333,0:35:36.708 Right. Again, that's the line. 0:35:36.708,0:35:39.500 That's the trap of the mind. Like,[br]what's my purpose? 0:35:39.500,0:35:43.625 Like what a what a heavy burden to have, 0:35:43.833,0:35:46.916 like some mission[br]that you have to fulfill, you know? 0:35:46.916,0:35:49.916 So to me, it's more like 0:35:49.958,0:35:52.916 in, you know, like people, people[br]look at my, 0:35:52.916,0:35:56.000 my website like a wake in the world dot[br]com and think, oh, 0:35:56.000,0:36:00.000 you've got some big mission,[br]you know some big purpose or something. 0:36:00.416,0:36:04.583 But it's that that moment to moment,[br]you know, following 0:36:04.583,0:36:09.875 your excitement is is it, you know,[br]like Joseph Campbell said Yeah, yeah. 0:36:09.958,0:36:11.791 Follow your bliss. That's it. 0:36:11.791,0:36:12.166 Yeah. 0:36:12.166,0:36:13.583 And it's, it's, it's 0:36:13.583,0:36:17.375 very you know like a little kid doesn't,[br]doesn't say what's my purpose. 0:36:17.750,0:36:21.625 You know, they don't they don't try[br]and figure out their mission in life. 0:36:21.625,0:36:22.583 They just go and play 0:36:22.583,0:36:26.000 with the next toy or,[br]you know, they're just excited naturally. 0:36:26.541,0:36:30.583 And it's that that feeling[br]that is our compass. 0:36:31.208,0:36:33.000 Yeah, they're all just kind of 0:36:34.208,0:36:35.166 Joseph Campbell. 0:36:35.166,0:36:35.541 Yeah. 0:36:35.541,0:36:38.750 He, he, he's famous for that that phrase. 0:36:38.750,0:36:41.750 Follow your bliss. Yeah. 0:36:42.041,0:36:45.041 Yeah. 0:36:45.041,0:36:46.833 Compass. 0:36:46.833,0:36:48.791 Yeah, 0:36:48.791,0:36:51.708 yeah. 0:36:51.708,0:36:54.208 All right. 0:36:54.208,0:36:57.291 So yeah, I will take a short break[br]and then 0:36:58.333,0:36:59.500 come back for a meditation.