A trace in the heart........Rupert Spira

Summary

This script delves into the concept of self-awareness and the nature of consciousness. It suggests that seeking happiness or enlightenment is a journey into the ocean of awareness, where all experiences are manifestations of consciousness. The speaker emphasizes that true understanding comes from recognizing that all experiences, from depression to enlightenment, are forms of knowing. The script encourages the practice of self-inquiry to unveil the inherent consciousness, using the 'I am' as a portal to transcend the limitations of the finite mind and realize the infinite nature of existence.

Takeaways

• 🧘 The mind that seeks happiness or enlightenment outside itself is destined for a life of misery, punctuated by brief moments of peace.
• 🌊 To find true peace, one must sink into the ocean of awareness, the source of all desires and experiences.
• 💭 The mind, objects of experience, and the space of awareness are not separate entities; they are all part of the singular experience of consciousness.
• 🌌 Consciousness is like an ocean, with waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states being different movements or expressions of the same substance.
• 🕊 All experiences, whether of depression or bliss, are simply the knowing of them; they are all expressions of consciousness.
• 🌀 The true nature of consciousness is indivisible and whole, and all experiences are temporary modulations of this whole.
• 🌱 The practice of self-inquiry is a journey from the perceived separate self back to the realization of one's true nature as pure awareness.
• 🔄 Initially, the practice of self-inquiry may lead to a back-and-forth experience between the separate self and pure awareness, but over time, awareness becomes the default state.
• ⏳ Even amidst the chaos of daily life, brief moments of returning to oneself can be powerful and contribute to the stabilization in awareness.
• 🤔 The question 'Who am I?' is not meant to be repeated endlessly but asked once to initiate the mind's journey back to its source.
• 🌟 The 'I am' consciousness is a divine reminder, a trace of God's presence within each individual, guiding towards the realization of infinite consciousness.

Q & A

What is the main message of the script regarding the pursuit of happiness and enlightenment?

The script suggests that seeking happiness in external objects or enlightenment in temporary states of mind leads to a life of misery with only brief moments of peace. True happiness and enlightenment are found by sinking deeply into the ocean of awareness, which is the source of all desires and experiences.

How does the script describe the relationship between the mind and the objects of experience?

The script implies that the mind and the objects of experience are not separate entities but are aspects of the same consciousness. The mind is the space in which all experiences occur, and the objects of experience are the content of that consciousness.

What is the significance of the ocean analogy used in the script?

The ocean analogy is used to describe the different states of consciousness. The waking state is like the waves on the surface, the dream state like the currents in the middle, and deep sleep like the stillness at the depths. All these states are expressions of the same fundamental substance—water in the ocean analogy, or consciousness in the context of the script.

How does the script explain the concept of 'pure awareness'?

Pure awareness, in the script, is described as the fundamental state of consciousness that underlies all experience. It is equally present in all experiences and is the true nature of the mind, which is not separate from the objects of experience.

What does the script suggest about the nature of consciousness and its relationship to experience?

The script suggests that consciousness is the only reality and that all experiences are the activity of consciousness. There is no division within consciousness; it is a single, indivisible whole that modulates itself in the forms of experience.

How does the script relate the concept of 'self-inquiry' to the experience of consciousness?

Self-inquiry, as discussed in the script, is a method to trace the mind back to its source, which is pure awareness. It involves asking questions that lead the mind beyond its usual focus on objects and experiences, back to the experience of being aware itself.

What is the role of the 'I am' thought in the process of self-inquiry as described in the script?

The 'I am' thought is a portal to the experience of pure awareness. It serves as a reminder of the presence of God or infinite consciousness within each individual and is the starting point for the mind to divest itself of limitations and recognize its true nature.

How does the script address the challenge of maintaining awareness amidst daily activities?

The script suggests that brief moments of returning to oneself, even amidst the chaos of work or daily life, are powerful. It encourages using the end of a conversation or task as an opportunity to refocus attention back on the source of awareness.

What does the script mean by 'the world is not what we see, it is how we see'?

This phrase from the script emphasizes that the nature of our experience is not determined by the external world itself, but by the perspective or the way we perceive and interpret that world through our consciousness.

How does the script differentiate between ordinary people and spiritual figures like Ramana Maharshi or the Buddha?

The script suggests that the difference lies in the focus of their perception. While most people are engrossed in the 'movie' of life, spiritual figures like Ramana Maharshi or the Buddha are aware of the 'screen' of consciousness on which the movie is projected.

What is the ultimate goal of self-inquiry according to the script?

The ultimate goal of self-inquiry, as described in the script, is to unveil the true nature of consciousness, which is infinite and unchanging. It is to recognize that the essential self is always present, even though it may be obscured by the activity of the mind.

Outlines

00:00

🧘‍♂️ The Pursuit of Happiness and Enlightenment

The first paragraph discusses the futility of seeking happiness and enlightenment from external objects or states of mind, suggesting that true fulfillment lies in the ocean of awareness. It emphasizes the importance of sinking into this awareness to find peace and the idea that all experiences are manifestations of consciousness. The paragraph also touches on the unity of experience and consciousness, likening the waking state, dream state, and deep sleep to different movements within the same ocean of water, all of which are expressions of water itself.

05:02

🌊 The Indivisibility of Consciousness and Experience

The second paragraph delves into the concept that all experiences are temporary modulations of the unlimited and indivisible whole, which is consciousness. It uses the metaphor of the ocean to illustrate that just as water is the essence of waves, currents, and depths, consciousness is the essence of all experiences. The paragraph also introduces the idea that the mind is a condensation of consciousness and that seeking happiness or enlightenment is a futile endeavor when one's true nature is already pure awareness.

10:02

🔄 The Transition from Separate Self to Pure Awareness

In the third paragraph, the discussion centers on the shift in identity from a separate self to the realization of pure awareness as the default state. It describes the process of self-inquiry and how it can lead to a stabilization in the felt understanding of one's true nature. The paragraph also addresses the persistence required in meditation and the inevitable back-and-forth between the separate self and the awareness until the latter becomes the default identity.

15:04

🤔 Practicing Self-Inquiry Amidst Chaos

The fourth paragraph offers advice on practicing self-inquiry during the chaos of daily life, suggesting that brief moments of returning to oneself between activities can be powerful. It emphasizes the importance of full attention during necessary tasks and the opportunity to reconnect with one's true nature when not engaged with the outside world. The paragraph also discusses the gradual diminishing of the back-and-forth feeling and the ability to remain centered even amidst intense conversations.

20:04

💡 The Simplicity of Being Aware

The fifth paragraph explores the simplicity of self-awareness, suggesting that the cessation of mind activity leads to the revelation of one's true nature. It discusses the role of self-inquiry questions as a means to guide the mind back to its source and emphasizes that once the mind is aware of its true nature, the questions become unnecessary. The paragraph also touches on the idea that awareness cannot pay attention to itself because it is not an object but the subject of all experience.

25:08

🌌 The Unveiling of Infinite Consciousness

The sixth and final paragraph discusses the concept of self-inquiry as an unveiling of consciousness, where the mind's activity veils its true nature, and the inquiry is a means to reveal it. It speaks about the 'I am' thought as a portal to infinite consciousness and how the knowledge 'I am' is a divine presence within each individual. The paragraph concludes by reiterating that the world is a thought in the mind of God and that the difference between ordinary people and enlightened beings lies in the perception of the screen versus the movie of life.

Keywords

💡Awareness

Awareness, in the context of the video, refers to the state of being conscious or actively noticing one's surroundings, thoughts, and feelings. It is central to the theme as the video discusses the idea that true happiness and enlightenment are found by sinking into this ocean of awareness. The script uses the metaphor of the ocean to illustrate the depth and breadth of awareness, suggesting that all experiences, whether of depression or enlightenment, are forms of awareness.

💡Enlightenment

Enlightenment is presented as a state of profound understanding or insight, often associated with spiritual awakening. The video emphasizes that seeking enlightenment is a journey into the depths of one's awareness, rather than a pursuit of external objects or states. It is used to contrast the temporary nature of worldly happiness with the enduring peace found within.

💡Consciousness

Consciousness is defined as the quality or state of awareness, or the individual's perception of their thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. The script likens consciousness to an ocean, with waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states as different movements within it. It is the fundamental substance of all experience, and the video suggests that recognizing this can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and one's place in the world.

💡Self-Inquiry

Self-Inquiry is a spiritual practice aimed at discovering the true nature of the self by questioning one's identity and existence. The video describes it as a process that can lead to the realization of one's inherent awareness. It is exemplified by the question 'Who am I?' which is intended to guide the mind back to its source, ultimately revealing the true self beyond the limitations of the ego.

💡Happiness

Happiness, in the video, is depicted as a fleeting state that is often sought after in external objects or conditions. It contrasts with the enduring peace that comes from immersing oneself in awareness. The script suggests that a mind accustomed to seeking happiness externally is destined for a life of misery, punctuated by brief moments of respite.

💡Mind

The mind, as discussed in the video, is the faculty of consciousness and thought. It is portrayed as an active participant in the creation of one's experience, capable of both obscuring and revealing the true nature of reality. The mind is also the subject of self-inquiry, with the video suggesting that by questioning the nature of the mind, one can uncover the underlying consciousness.

💡Experience

Experience in the video is used to describe the subjective encounters and occurrences within one's life. It is noted that all experiences, whether of the waking state, dream state, or deep sleep, are manifestations of the activity of consciousness. The video posits that understanding the nature of experience can lead to a realization that all phenomena are temporary modulations of the indivisible whole of consciousness.

💡Reality

Reality, as explored in the script, is the true state of things as they actually exist, independent of our perceptions. The video suggests that our experiences can either veil or shine with their reality, depending on our viewpoint. It implies that the ultimate reality is the unchanging consciousness that underlies all phenomena.

💡I Am

The phrase 'I Am' is highlighted as a fundamental expression of existence and self-awareness. In the video, it is presented as a portal to the deeper understanding of one's true nature. It is suggested that focusing on the 'I Am' can help strip away the limitations of the finite self, revealing the infinite consciousness that is the essence of being.

💡Veil

To veil, in the context of the video, means to conceal or obscure. The script uses this term to describe how the forms of experience can hide the true nature of reality from our perception. It is also used to illustrate how the mind can veil the underlying consciousness with its own activity, creating a barrier to self-realization.

💡Thought

Thought is the process of thinking, involving mental activity that produces ideas and concepts. The video discusses how thoughts can either be a veil to the true nature of reality or a means to understand it. It also touches on the idea that the world is a 'great thought in the mind of God,' suggesting that our thoughts and perceptions shape our experience of existence.

Highlights

A mind seeking happiness in objects or enlightenment in states is destined for misery with brief moments of respite.

Courage and clarity are needed to face the fact that a longing mind is not destined for lasting happiness.

True happiness and enlightenment are found by sinking into the ocean of awareness, not by seeking external objects.

A mind accustomed to awareness becomes saturated with peace, which it carries into activities and relationships.

The distinction between mind and objects of experience is a subtle implication, not a fact; all is experience within the mind.

Consciousness is the underlying reality of all experience; it is the knowing of all that is experienced.

Consciousness can be visualized as an ocean, with waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states as different movements of water.

All experience is a temporary modulation of the indivisible whole of consciousness.

The knowing of an experience, such as depression or samadhi, is the only thing that is ever truly known.

The world is not a machine but a great thought in the mind of God, experienced through consciousness.

The difference between the enlightened and the average person is the focus on the screen (consciousness) versus the movie (experience).

Persistence in self-inquiry leads to a shift where awareness becomes the default identity, not a temporary visit.

In the midst of work chaos, brief moments of returning to awareness can be powerful for practice.

The question 'Who am I?' is a tool to initiate the journey back to the source of consciousness, not an endless repetition.

Attention cannot attend to itself because awareness is not an object; it is the subject experiencing all objects.

The cessation of mind activity leads to the realization of the ever-present, irreducible essence of being.

The 'I am' realization is a portal to divest the mind of its limitations and reveal it as infinite consciousness.

Self-inquiry is the unveiling process of consciousness, leading to the recognition of its true nature.

Transcripts

[Music]

a mind that

seeks happiness in objects

or enlightenment in states of mind

is destined for a life of misery

punctuated by brief moments of respite

have the the courage and the clarity

to face that fact

a mind that longs for happiness

or seeks enlightenment

must sink deeply

into the ocean of awareness from which

it has risen

everything that it truly longs for

lives there

a mind that is accustomed

to sinking regularly into the ocean of

awareness

becomes progressively saturated with its

peace

and as such a mind rises

again it brings this

peace with it out into the world into

its

activities and relationships

when i refer to the objects

of experience appearing and disappearing

in the

space of awareness

or the mind rising and

falling in the ocean of awareness i

subtly imply that

mind or the objects of experience

are one thing

and the space or ocean of awareness

another

that is not intended it is just a manner

of speaking

all that is or could ever be known is

experience

all the experience takes place in the

mind

and all there is to mind is

consciousness or

the knowing of it

in other words all that is ever

experienced is the activity

of consciousness and it is consciousness

that is experiencing it

imagine or visualize consciousness like

an ocean of water

the waking state is like the

waves on the surface of the ocean

the dream state is like the currents in

the middle of the ocean

deep sleep is like the stillness at the

depths of the ocean

but all there is to the waves

the currents and the depths

of the ocean is water

it's all a movement of water

all there is to experience is

consciousness

knowing awareness

it's all a movement of knowing the

activity

of consciousness

the water is equally present in all

parts of the ocean

so awareness or pure knowing is

equally present in all experience

all there is to a deep depression is the

knowing of it

all there is to a sublime samadhi is the

knowing of it

all there is to the taste of tea is the

knowing of it

other than knowing is ever known and it

is knowing

that knows this knowing

and having nothing in itself other than

itself

there is nothing in knowing with which

it could be divided

just as there is nothing in an ocean

other than water

and as of the result the ocean is never

divided

into parts it is always a single

homogeneous

indivisible whole

and everything that appears in or on the

ocean is a

temporary modulation of that unlimited

and indivisible whole

the water never ceases to be water in

order to become

a wave

and therefore in the form of the wave

the water doesn't have to

return to itself

it never ceases to be itself

likewise this knowing or pure

consciousness

never becomes anything other than itself

it simply modulates itself in all the

forms

of experience

but at breakfast this morning

ken told me that in peru

the name for a person is

animated earth

it's a beautiful understanding

but our name for a person here is

condensed

consciousness just as

the dream that we have at night is as it

were

a condensation or precipitation within

our own minds

of our own minds

so each of our minds is a condensation

or a precipitation

of consciousness within consciousness

known by consciousness

the mind that seeks happiness or

enlightenment or the

heart that longs for god's presence

it's like a current in the ocean in

search of water

let your longing come to rest in this

understanding

don't allow the forms

of experience to veil or

obscure their reality

experience can be seen to either

veil its reality or shine

with its reality depending on the view

we take of it

the only difference between most people

and people like ramana maharshi or

krishna menon or the buddha is that

most people only see the movie

people like ramana mahashi

they watch the movie but they only see

the screen

that's the only difference

we all watch the same movie

how we see dictates

what we see the world is not

what we see it is how we see

the world is the world is not a

a great machine it is a great

thought in the mind of god

[Music]

when i practice uh self-inquiry um

i'm getting the experience well you

described

um but then when i quit

um immediately i get taken over by

thought again

and in daily life i'm as unenlightened

as i

were before so um

i i'm i'm asking myself and you in this

case

is it a matter of persistence or

endurance because i'm doing it for some

time now

via meditation um so i

i just like to uh have some other

affirmation uh that i need to continue

this way or

am i doing something wrong

well to begin with we feel that we are

a separate self or a finite mind

that practices self inquiry and as a

result

visits our true nature

of pure awareness from time to time and

then goes back to

our default mode which is the separate

self

then back and forth takes place for some

time but at a certain point

there is a kind of shift in our identity

where the presence of awareness becomes

our default identity

not a place that we visit from time to

time but we move in

it is our home and we begin to

stabilize in that

felt understanding

the the old habits may

continue for some time but they are no

longer

fed by our belief in being a separate

self so in time

they they dwindle so

but this back and forth that you um

describe it is is

unnecessary an inevitable stage to begin

with but just begin to feel

more and more that your true nature is

not something you visit

as a separate it's not something that

you as a separate self visit

from time to time it is what you are

and the separate self is

the form that you awareness assume

in order to engage with the outside

world

and do you have some advice to practice

it

amidst the chaos of work for example

that's the perfect time to practice it

but when i'm so happy attached to my

mind

because i'm talking with a colleague

about something very intellectual or

something but no if if

you're talking with a colleague about

something that's important and your full

attention is required on the

conversation then give your full

attention to the conversation

but when the conversation comes to an

end that is the time to take the

opportunity

however brief it may be to go back to

yourself because it's not the amount of

time

that even if you were just to to return

to yourself

briefly between emails or conversations

that is tremendously powerful

then if your mind is required to attend

to a conversation or a meeting or an

email or whatever

you allow your attention to go there and

then when it is no longer required

by the world your attention comes back

to rest in its

source um last question just

one thing to add to that then in time

this feeling of back and forth

will begin to to diminish and you'll

find that

when you're engaged in not just in

between

conversations but actually in the midst

of conversation

the conversation in time will lose its

capacity

to have to veil your knowledge of

yourself

and right in the midst of the

conversation even

an intense or a heated conversation you

still feel that you're centered in

yourself

and would you suggest in these brief

moments after conversation for example

that i ask myself a question like

once who or what is aware of my

experience for example or

would you suggest resting as awareness

well the only purpose of asking yourself

the question

is to take you from who you seem to be

to who you really are

so the the question itself is is not

it is just it just

it initiates that journey if you like

from

the separate self back to the true and

only self of

pure awareness so once you've returned

to yourself then you abide

in yourself that's the essence of self

inquiry so self inquiry is

precipitated by a question but the

question itself

is not really the people often um

misunderstand this about ramana maharshi

they think that

he recommended people ask themselves who

am i

who am i who am i who am i endlessly no

he

recommended you ask yourself that

question once

and you allow that question to invite

the mind to

trace its way back to its source

so just ask the question once

and in and then allow the question to to

initiate this tracing back of your mind

to its source or essence but in time

you won't even need to verbalize the

question

you just notice and and just the impulse

to

go back to yourself will rise you no

longer need to verbalize the question

you you just go back there

it's like um when i bicycle back to my

hotel

um from here i've been doing it for so

many years now

i no longer need to get out google maps

on my iphone i always used to get lost

going back to my hotel

and through the canals and so i was

always stopping on my iphone that's like

asking the question you know

find him out but now i just get on my

bike and without thinking about it i

i get back to the hotel you don't you

don't need i don't need to refer to

google maps all the time

no so you don't always need to ask

yourself the question who am i

what is it that knows or is aware of my

experience or what is the continuous

element

of my experience all these questions

they are they are all

sacred questions whose purpose is to

attract attention back to its source

but once the attention has is

taking that journey the question should

be dispensed with so

only use the question if it's

if it's if it's necessary and then

discard it

[Music]

i have a question um about

the relaxing of attention

and abiding as the self

in order to recognize and familiarize

myself with that

if i understand it correctly and i guess

that's the question

relaxing the attention from objects but

myself

is qualityless so attention

can't attach to it do i understand

correctly

that then there is no

attention and the mind has no role to

play in this

yes attention means awareness directed

towards

an object so awareness cannot

attend to itself it cannot pay attention

to itself

because there is nothing objective there

to pay attention to

but for the same reason that the eyes

cannot see themselves because they are

too close to themselves there is no

distance from your eyes to your eyes

so the eyes cannot see themselves you

cannot attend to yourself

because you can only attend to something

that is at a distance from yourself

so as the attention

sinks as it were inwards it it loses its

limitations

when you go all the way back to

awareness awareness cannot know itself

what

does not know itself in subject object

relationship

i i think there's a kind of a struggle

that my mind is still

involved in trying to understand or

or to to bring together the the

relaxing of attention at first

seems like an action as opposed to the

cessation of an action

okay so it's just a relaxing that helps

not paying attention to anything

objective

and there remains a sense of

i guess still having to do

something i think that's getting in the

way

you ask yourself a question such as

what is it that knows or is aware of my

experience

what happens to your mind

it fades is that fading and effort of

your mind

no that's that's exactly a cessation of

activity

yes so this question is a very powerful

question because it

the mind cannot find the answer to that

question

well in any object of experience because

you'd immediately ask the question again

but what is it that knows or is aware of

this object

i i think i said i suddenly realized i

know i don't know if this makes sense

but this cessation leads to something

that's always there

yes or even more direct than this

question ask yourself the question

am i aware same thing what happens to

your mind then

it needs to fade

or at least be somehow bypassed

yes in order to answer the question am i

aware

in order to answer yes to the question

am i aware we have to go

directly to the experience of being

aware

but we don't have to go there we are

the experience of being aware so being

aware becomes aware of being aware

being aware of being aware so could it

be as simple as that all of this

mind activity self-referential thought

and stuff

is exactly the thing that draws us away

it just has to stop and we're home

that's how it seems does that make sense

yes is it seriously is it that simple

yes

[Laughter]

yes

what is it that remains when the

activity of the mind

ceases me when everything that can be

removed from you

is removed from you what remains

the essential you the essential

irreducible you

don't go looking for that you cannot

find it it is too close to you no i yeah

i see that you can only be that

knowingly yeah

and we are already that but most of us

are that

unknowingly without recognizing it

so when we eye awareness

has dreamed this experience within

itself

located itself in this body in order to

perceive that dream

and in doing so has shrunk itself into

the frame

the temporary local frame of a body

and it feels imprisoned it it longs to

go back

to its fullness to its wholeness to its

to its natural condition i don't mean to

suggest that it's unnatural to manifest

the world i mean to its original

condition

but it's an original condition it's not

something that is foreign to it it's not

it's not at the distance from yourself

you are

always only infinite consciousness but

you have lost yourself in your own

dreams so

it's not even true to say you have to go

back to yourself as if you have

left yourself no your own dream takes

place within yourself you have

veiled yourself with yourself you

consciousness

have veiled yourself with your own

creativity

and lost yourself in your own creativity

but you have never ceased being yourself

and the funny thing it's all one thing

at the same time

yes your own creativity is is is only

yourself

it's only a play of yourself

so self-inquiry is a kind of

unveiling of consciousness

consciousness veils itself with its own

activity

and what we call self-inquiry or

meditation or prayer is the unveiling

of consciousness and rev until it it

stands revealed

as it essentially is

and the the hint in each of our finite

minds

of consciousness

as it is it is the knowledge i am

that that is uh the knowledge i am is a

trace that god has left in each of our

hearts to remind us

of his presence

so that is why the thought i it's why

ramana maharshi's version of

self-inquiry was the question who

am i it's why nisargadatta's formulation

of self-inquiry was focus on the i

am take the thought i

go to the experience to which you refer

when you say i am

that is a a portal as it were

it is the means by which the mind is

gradually divested of its limitations

and

stands revealed as infinite

consciousness

that's why i am is said to be god's name

god's presence in our hearts the light

of consciousness

shining in each of our finite minds that

light of consciousness

is accessed through the knowledge i am

that's one of the ways

it is also the knowing that pervades the

entire mind so it's not just a portal

you could also take the knowing god's

presence is the knowing that pervades

all the experience that is infinite

consciousness shining

not just in the background of our finite

experience but amidst

in the midst of our finite experience

[Music]

the mind that seeks happiness or

enlightenment or the

heart that longs for god's presence

is like a current in the ocean in search

of water

let your longing come to rest in this

understanding

don't allow the forms

of experience to veil or

obscure their reality

experience can be seen to either

veil its reality or shine

with its reality depending on the

view we take of it

the only difference between most people

and people like ramana maharshi or

krishna menon or the buddha is that

most people only see the movie

people like ramana mahashi atmananda and

the buddha

they watch the movie but they only see

the screen

that's the only difference

we all watch the same movie

how we see dictates

what we see the world is not

what we see it is how we see

the world is the world is not a

a great machine it is a great

thought in the mind of god

[Music]

[Music]

you