I have found this to be true as well. It is difficult to make any real changes solely from the mental level. The body and its emotions play a key role. I had an experience one time, where something really triggered my emotions. My stomach was burning and I was feeling trapped. I have had these emotions so many times before in my life, to various degrees of intensity, but in a subtle way they where there all the time as a backdrop. I decided to lay down, close my eyes, and ask myself when did I feel this way for the first time. I ended up laying down for more than one hour, just diving into this emotion, just let it take me over. Alot of images from my childhood come flashing before my inner eye. Some of them I doubt ever occured in reality, but it was an inner reality for me. After this I felt a huge relieve. This was when I knew that this is the way forward. We must not run from the pain but meet it and feel it. What im trying to say is that when something "bad" happens in your life, that really triggers your inner traumas, it is a great opportunity for growth :)
Wow. Yeah these sorts of experiences have also informed my approach. The capacity to feel continues to deepen. The attunement to the subtle ways we disconnect from pain become more and more apparent. Thanks for sharing :)
@@SamRoff Yes, and on a more esoteric level, as long as we keep running from it, we will keep attracting experiences that activate our traumas. Like Carl Jung said, when an inner situation is not made conscious it appears outside as fate. So this is really important work that you are doing, keep going 🙂
Man that would have been exactly what I needed to hear couple years ago when left my country stepping into unknown, experiencing so much pain because of non dual concepts, not doing an actual deep shadow work. When awakening starts to occur we often get lost in trying to get things right, close ourselves in cages without engaging with the world, thinking that by staying alone in a safe place we would actually get it. While from my experience real unraveling started to happen when I left my life behind and stepped into unknown. And then did it again, and again, constantly choosing something new and scary. That’s where real golden is found to my mind. Cool to hear it in this video 🌞
Sam, thanks so much for this. It deeply resonates as this has been my practice during an expanding time in my life. It’s scary in the moment but very rewarding. Your clarity and authenticity is magical ✨
@@katiemolloy5440 absolutely…. Dissociation often feels like the body ‘numbing’ out. If you can connect to the body and feel that numbing out with spaciousness, compassion and deep feeling, I believe it is immensely helpful for integrating that part of you that had to dissociate as a legitimate coping strategy earlier on.
I want to start by saying thank you ❤ You really helped ground me at a pivotal moment for me, your words helped center me. I’ve been experiencing intense cravings and despite the reminders I gave myself I felt like I needed an extra push. So I went to see if you made any videos recently and what do ya know, you made a video that I really needed to listen to. If you have the time, I’d like for you to tell me if I understood the core of what you were saying. Here it is: Are you saying that when we repeatedly expand our focus to include the different dimensions of our senses and overall human experience, that we’ll naturally feel compelled to do the right things? For example: By being aware of our feelings, our sense of touch, sound, breath, and more, simultaneously, it equips us with the capacity to act in a positive way? Also, when you were making the distinction between an authentic nondual teacher and one who wasn’t doing the practice right. Was the key point that you were making, that the ones who don’t do the practice correctly, only fixate on awareness itself detached from the sensory experience. Whereas those that are authentic, don’t fixate on one thing by instead, expanding to include everything? I feel like you were making a good distinction there if so. And it’s real subtle too because while only focusing on the breath is good for deepening our concentration. If we only focus on the breath, or only focus on emptiness, or only focus on an object, then I can see how it can be difficult to grow in aspects that our attention isn’t focused on. I know this is a lot, but if you could help me make sure that I understood your perspective I’d be grateful. Especially since I’d be able to fully digest what you shared
No problem! I’m glad it could help. I would say that yes, if we’re engaged fully with all of our faculties we’re more attuned to the environment and we’re perceiving with the entire human body. This gives you better attunement to the environment and a capacity to see clearly. Especially when we’re fully in contact with sensation and breathing fully through the body. I think yes, we can easily fixate on awareness and that can present problems. There’s a place for resting as awareness as an orientation as a primary way of practicing, but ultimately it has to contain the sensory experience too. Ie it can be valuable to give earnest attention to awareness to deepen our realisation of it before moving to the sense domain. To navigate this space, trusting yourself is key. If your heart is resonating with a certain teaching, take that all the way. Hope you’re well :)
@@SamRoff Thanm you for the reply! I think I fully understand now. I’ve been spending more time with myself, and I’ve been trying to connect with myself sincerely as much as possible. But admittedly it’s been a painful process. I can feel myself transforming in a positive way, but the transformation has been beyond my expectations. For example: Our past selves might see growth as a simple process, and the idea of going through difficulty in order to grow may appear attractive to us. But our idea of it, compared to the actual experience of it is two different things. I thought that when I’d be on this journey, it’d be simple since the practice is relatively simple. But experientially, at times it can be overwhelming and since this path isn’t common, the doubts and worry can be really hard to resolve when we lack a proper support system. Which is why when I watch videos like yours, it’s such a huge relief. You reassure us that everything will be alright, and you do it in such a sincere and compassionate way that just softens the tension I had moments ago. Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful insights and your journey, you’ve certainly impacted my life in a positive way by doing what you do ❤️ I hope you’re well too, peace and blessings
Grounding vid, Sam. I'm going thru smth and realize I'm hiding in my 'cave' trying to meditate n reach that point so I'll stop suffering. Not working at all. I've got a ques - I watch the breath n refocus if I'm distracted. Is this the right technique or is this a limiting technique that focuses only on concentration but not beyond that
I have found this to be true as well. It is difficult to make any real changes solely from the mental level. The body and its emotions play a key role. I had an experience one time, where something really triggered my emotions. My stomach was burning and I was feeling trapped. I have had these emotions so many times before in my life, to various degrees of intensity, but in a subtle way they where there all the time as a backdrop. I decided to lay down, close my eyes, and ask myself when did I feel this way for the first time. I ended up laying down for more than one hour, just diving into this emotion, just let it take me over. Alot of images from my childhood come flashing before my inner eye. Some of them I doubt ever occured in reality, but it was an inner reality for me. After this I felt a huge relieve. This was when I knew that this is the way forward. We must not run from the pain but meet it and feel it. What im trying to say is that when something "bad" happens in your life, that really triggers your inner traumas, it is a great opportunity for growth :)
Wow. Yeah these sorts of experiences have also informed my approach. The capacity to feel continues to deepen. The attunement to the subtle ways we disconnect from pain become more and more apparent. Thanks for sharing :)
@@SamRoff Yes, and on a more esoteric level, as long as we keep running from it, we will keep attracting experiences that activate our traumas. Like Carl Jung said, when an inner situation is not made conscious it appears outside as fate. So this is really important work that you are doing, keep going 🙂
This is exactly what i was looking for
Perfecto 💥
Man that would have been exactly what I needed to hear couple years ago when left my country stepping into unknown, experiencing so much pain because of non dual concepts, not doing an actual deep shadow work. When awakening starts to occur we often get lost in trying to get things right, close ourselves in cages without engaging with the world, thinking that by staying alone in a safe place we would actually get it. While from my experience real unraveling started to happen when I left my life behind and stepped into unknown. And then did it again, and again, constantly choosing something new and scary. That’s where real golden is found to my mind. Cool to hear it in this video 🌞
💙
Beautiful practice, thank you Sam:)
You’re welcome 😊
Sam, thanks so much for this. It deeply resonates as this has been my practice during an expanding time in my life. It’s scary in the moment but very rewarding. Your clarity and authenticity is magical ✨
Thank you Katie 💛. Glad it resonates!!
@@SamRoff Do you think these practices help with dissociation?
@@katiemolloy5440 absolutely…. Dissociation often feels like the body ‘numbing’ out. If you can connect to the body and feel that numbing out with spaciousness, compassion and deep feeling, I believe it is immensely helpful for integrating that part of you that had to dissociate as a legitimate coping strategy earlier on.
@@SamRoff thank you so much 💕
Thanks my friend I guess what you say is do what fears you and live life without pain in your heart ❤
Live and feel all the way!
I want to start by saying thank you ❤ You really helped ground me at a pivotal moment for me, your words helped center me. I’ve been experiencing intense cravings and despite the reminders I gave myself I felt like I needed an extra push. So I went to see if you made any videos recently and what do ya know, you made a video that I really needed to listen to.
If you have the time, I’d like for you to tell me if I understood the core of what you were saying. Here it is:
Are you saying that when we repeatedly expand our focus to include the different dimensions of our senses and overall human experience, that we’ll naturally feel compelled to do the right things?
For example: By being aware of our feelings, our sense of touch, sound, breath, and more, simultaneously, it equips us with the capacity to act in a positive way?
Also, when you were making the distinction between an authentic nondual teacher and one who wasn’t doing the practice right. Was the key point that you were making, that the ones who don’t do the practice correctly, only fixate on awareness itself detached from the sensory experience. Whereas those that are authentic, don’t fixate on one thing by instead, expanding to include everything?
I feel like you were making a good distinction there if so. And it’s real subtle too because while only focusing on the breath is good for deepening our concentration. If we only focus on the breath, or only focus on emptiness, or only focus on an object, then I can see how it can be difficult to grow in aspects that our attention isn’t focused on.
I know this is a lot, but if you could help me make sure that I understood your perspective I’d be grateful. Especially since I’d be able to fully digest what you shared
No problem! I’m glad it could help.
I would say that yes, if we’re engaged fully with all of our faculties we’re more attuned to the environment and we’re perceiving with the entire human body. This gives you better attunement to the environment and a capacity to see clearly. Especially when we’re fully in contact with sensation and breathing fully through the body.
I think yes, we can easily fixate on awareness and that can present problems. There’s a place for resting as awareness as an orientation as a primary way of practicing, but ultimately it has to contain the sensory experience too. Ie it can be valuable to give earnest attention to awareness to deepen our realisation of it before moving to the sense domain. To navigate this space, trusting yourself is key. If your heart is resonating with a certain teaching, take that all the way.
Hope you’re well :)
@@SamRoff Thanm you for the reply! I think I fully understand now. I’ve been spending more time with myself, and I’ve been trying to connect with myself sincerely as much as possible. But admittedly it’s been a painful process. I can feel myself transforming in a positive way, but the transformation has been beyond my expectations. For example:
Our past selves might see growth as a simple process, and the idea of going through difficulty in order to grow may appear attractive to us. But our idea of it, compared to the actual experience of it is two different things. I thought that when I’d be on this journey, it’d be simple since the practice is relatively simple. But experientially, at times it can be overwhelming and since this path isn’t common, the doubts and worry can be really hard to resolve when we lack a proper support system.
Which is why when I watch videos like yours, it’s such a huge relief. You reassure us that everything will be alright, and you do it in such a sincere and compassionate way that just softens the tension I had moments ago. Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful insights and your journey, you’ve certainly impacted my life in a positive way by doing what you do ❤️
I hope you’re well too, peace and blessings
Grounding vid, Sam. I'm going thru smth and realize I'm hiding in my 'cave' trying to meditate n reach that point so I'll stop suffering. Not working at all. I've got a ques - I watch the breath n refocus if I'm distracted. Is this the right technique or is this a limiting technique that focuses only on concentration but not beyond that
Being able to stay with breath forms the backbone of a lot of other practices. Great for building concentration! No problems with it.
Nice video Sam.