Awakening: How Important is Practice? (Includes Meditation instruction)
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- This video addresses the sometimes confusing juxtaposition of practice and effort with surrender and non-doing.
As discussed in this video, There roughly are two areas of one's spiritual journey during which this question arises: At the beginning and in deeper stages of realization. We will address both of these in detail.
There is also instruction on two simple types of mediation. The first is natural meditation. The second is breath based mediation.
Thank you for stopping by and let me know if you would like to see more or less of this kind of content.
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You have a nack for explaining very slippery concepts in a clear and concise way. Thank you Angelo.
Welcome :)
This was really clear thank you! I'm so glad I came across your channel. I seemed to have drifted in and out of a very blissful state unlike anything i've ever experinced before. Sometimes it's lasted a few weeks, days or minutes. Initally i'd get quite upset when it went (although it's probably not gone anywhere as such) but now i'm just super greatful to have felt such a feeling, even if it was only for 1min. Your channel makes me feel closer to "that feeling" so thank you! 🙏
I hope this helps others.
When I first began this journey, my own mind & thoughts would work against me. I realized my mistake after some time. The problem was, I was expecting "an experience ", (of enlightenment). Haaaa, even though I had no idea of what that even meant. I was looking for something outside myself. That very mental formulation sent me further and further away from what I thought I was seeking. I would walk away frustrated saying, "nothing ever happens!" Then somehow it occurred to me that, I was having the experience, of "wanting" an experience. That's when I understood that the basic process is to do nothing, expect nothing, and don't identify with anything. Just sit and observe. After sometime, I was able to create some distance between my thoughts and "I AM."
🙏
Angelo, I'm currently reading your book and I have to say that something about your way of "transmission" just connects with me. I am now noticing subtle conditioning in myself, that I had overlooked over several years of seeking. I now also understand why this process is so intimate and bespoke and I appreciate your careful selection of words and phrases to trigger the questions and insights that are right of each of us! Thank you from the bottom of my heart
You’re Welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
I have come to a brick wall and its breathing. Thanks for this video it helps for sure to look :)
Been watching video's for 13 years or more feels like I been gather information to find out how to be Free. But not really discovering or standing in my understanding of truth. Just found your videos around 2 weeks ago and will start at breath in one to ten from the beginning and meditate I think watching all those video way meditative for me some how. choosing chooses to come home now. Bless everyone on this discovery of truth may your grace bring us now-wing in the now
Just received your book AWAKE only read up to chapter 3 it's really good I felt in it and can't wait to read the rest Thank You Again for guiding us back
1- For a beginner: regular practice
* natural meditation
* breath counting
* inquiry : who am I?
2- when surrender has happened = awakening
* the seeking was an error of perception
* you can't practice Reality
* your practice is no practice
* BUT: at some other periods you still must practice
Beautiful ❤️🙏❤️🌈... masterful....
Yes very helpful Thankyou 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Both…intuition and practice. Practice for those with a well entrenched ego, such that non-duality may seem fearful and/or disorientating,; while those possessing intuition that is capable of “flipping the switch”, are perhaps more spontaneous, and comfortable with change.
So good. Ty. I’m wanting to be able to go right to that edge and just let it take who I think myself to be
Thank you for making these videos! They are very helpful. ❤️
You’re welcome!
I would like to listen to this again. I did find it clarifying, particularly towards the end but I got a bit confused in the middle somewhere 🙂. I engaged in a regular meditation practice for 25 years after being taught in the Buddhist tradition following a car accident. It was effective in alleviating certain levels of suffering and was often a pleasant and inspiring activity I believed would eventually lead to something called enlightenment or realisation (I didn't know what that was but I knew I wanted it). But I cannot say it made me any more wise, enlightened or much happier. This formal practice dropped away following a period of acceptance and deep gratitude to life in the midst of difficult circumstances. I think this could be called surrender. It was also a period where I become open to various other teachers and teachings other than the one I had been focussed on for the previous 5 years.
I don't know if this was some kind of "awakening" but sitting as the witness to my own thoughts and states suddenly revealed itself to be just another, more subtle, thought construct and I sort of fell back into myself (if that makes sense) and this sense of expansive am-ness revealed itself behind it all. For the previous 2 years my "practice" has been dropping into this beingness multiple times a day, combined with a type of inquiry or curiosity that isn't really an intellectual questioning. These two elements are a way to become more familiar, more intimate with this beingness, to let it impregnate or merge with my sense of identity - but I may even be off base in that. I no longer experience extreme emotional states (positive or negative), am far less reactive, more patient and peaceful. I'm trying to build a career now as a psychotherapist encouraging and teaching people certain mindfulness practices that I don't even practice myself anymore (which might seem disingenuous to some, but not to me). And some months ago I found Angelo who really resonates with me and, at another challenging time in life, has certainly given some fresh wind to my sails. I'm reading his book at a snail's pace - sometimes I crawl into bed, read a single sentence and am just staring into space for 10 minutes 😆.
That is awakening to I Am yes :)
This is a very important talk, thank you for clearing the field!!
My pleasure!
I fluctuate. I dont know anymore, but i do, but ultimately i dont. Thank you for this video.
This is so helpful, concise, and shows me I'm on the right path. I've isolated a huge block: if I wake up, will my teenage sons have lost their bond with their mother? Will I have lost my bond with my sons? Or will it all be ok? Feeling guilt for actively trying to 'abandon' by children keeps me from relaxing into it. Everything else in life--I can let go.
Well... I definitely don't lean into practice. I'm not really great at being consistent at anything unless there's an absolute need, like how listening to your app helps me. 😅 I do fixate sometimes, but in an obsessive way where I totally forget that I need things like water, food, and a shower. 😆 Otherwise, practice is not my strong suit.
I'm just chaos on legs.
Thanks for this. ❤️
Just allowing those moments of spontaneous intimacy to come forth, whenever they do, is itself powerful practice. Depth rather than breadth or consistency is key 🔑
Super thanks! I lean to intellect (study) but increasingly enjoy just relaxing into a seated, shikantaza-type curiosity. When you realise there is nothing to be achieved in zazen, then you realise the value of zazen :D
Tried the counting thing but I'm too distracted by numbers and it just led to a constant feeling of failure. I call 7, 8, 9 and 10 the lonely children of my meditation... poor neglected souls.
lolol
Thank you for making these videos.
Welcome! Thanks for coming!
To respond to your question at the end...
Although there were several years of practice prior to "the understanding", being firm.... One can honestly say, that in hindsight...it amounted to nothing, so to speak...and that inquiry, and recognition are key...
On the other hand, meditation as described in the video...can be a wonderful catalyst.
Combined there is more power, than either by itself...I honestly believe as well, that self enquiry is key, and without it, it would just be so much less likely that the final recognition will occur.
Very helpful 👍 Thank you 👏
Welcome!
Thank you
You are a true teacher.
Natural practice, intuitive approach. Finally my experience is mentioned.
It is all so subtle and mind and goals etc. can only interfere.
There is a very gradual shift happening.
Thanks for filling in the blanks.
Wonderful!
Excellent video! Thank-you Angelo for all the wisdom you share and for helping so many wake-up and experience reality unfiltered
Just glad it’s helping
thank you angelo!
You’re Welcome!
What was your face before the Universe was born?
Thanks for this.
I cannot believe I finally found you. I have been asking. Prayer… such a noisy method toward awakening, but it does work.
Wonderful!
Helpful…I am a beginner beginner and just exploring the past month or so, but I am very curious. Skeptical but very open. I am watching your videos and not wanting to be confused by other methods or teachings etc. or get caught up in “ritual”. I will take this advice and see where it leads I appreciate the non pressure approach as pressure tends to repel me. This seems very relaxing. I will get your book, but may take me a bit to read it as I have severe eye stain issues and must save them for my work, but I can read in small increments and coupled with your videos, I will dive in. Thanks 😊
I really like your alignment with truth, this will go well for you. The importance of discernment is overlooked in spiritual communities.
Thank you for this very clear explanation Angelo. I find myself constantly needing to go inward for, as you say, satisfaction. I get disoriented often with the chaotic environment and inauthentic human interaction. The world feels unkind and disorderly to me, and I find solace in solitude and meditation. Now more and more in absorbtion and wanting to live in that state. Unless I am at the ocean when I don't need to practice but just fall into a relaxed beingness. I don't label myself as a seeker but I observe that throughout my existence, that is what I do, wanting solitude and absorbtion. How does this translate to awakening? Could you give me a pointer as to what I can deepen into more? 🙏🏼💜
Much love from Ireland ❤❤
I love Ireland! One of my favorite places I’ve ever visited :)
@@SimplyAlwaysAwake
That's lovely to hear..
You think you would ever hold a seminar at some stage over here?
@@catherinea2726 perhaps so, would depend how much interest there is there :).
@@SimplyAlwaysAwake
Ireland is ready!!
I had a wonderful experience the other day
My Mother in law has Alzheimer's
She was getting very aggitated I managed to get her back into bed and I kept making soothing sounds like shhhhh as a mother would to a child...for 20 mins we were looking and smiling at each other..
Her essence was still there
I was thinking of nothing else in those 20 minutes and I recognised what we were feeling was pure love
There was a lovely atmosphere in the room and for the whole day I had a feeling of everything is as it should be..
@@catherinea2726 how sweet! I’m happy to hear that.
Thank you! This is very helpfull. I have been meditating in different ways for a couple of years...and have always this question on if I am doing it right...as my thoughts are always there!! This video made so much sense. I am reading your book and I am very glad I found you on zdoggmd's UA-cam channel 🙏 . I live in Norway 🇳🇴
Welcome! Nice to hear from you
I long held the belief that I had to control my thoughts and only focus on my breath. I disliked that so much. When I started letting thoughts move through me - transitioning from mantras to breath to whatever - I finally stopped resisting and my meditations began to feel right (for me). I guess I went from a highly structured practice to a more intuitive way of meditating.
Im working towards being aware of the present. It feels terribly sad that presence seems fleeting. Thank you for these videos 💜
Thanks for your comments. Isn’t it lovely to just let it all be… to BE meditated?
Spira says he hasn't gone through a shift like that, and that for him it was far more subtle and gradual. He doesn't deny that can occur but he says that more occurs in cases where there's a clear suffering and referencing Tolle, causing people to sit on a park bench for years since it was so different before and after. He had a privileged upbringing and a successful life and may have been okay. At least this is what mind is telling me now, that I would be more like Spira because my egoic life was actually a pretty good one. Yes, there's still a void and clear sense there's more and some dissatisfaction but life/luck has gone well enough that it's pretty darn good and if that's all there was, that would be great also. I'm also afraid I'll make Nonduality into a belief system rather than this shift if the shift is subtle like Spira says.
Angelo, thanks so much for your videos, I've found them immensely helpful and inspiring. One question I was left with after this video is still the *why* behind practicing, which didn't seem to be addressed? My guess would be that they are developing qualities of the mind, e.g., equanimity (natural meditation) and "focus" (breath meditation), which are then useful for inquiry to be more successful (i.e., more likely to perceive insights and have them stick). My conceptual mind is confused about why we apply specific inquiries (nature of self & reality) for specific goals (initial awakening & further realization), but then the type of meditative practice doesn't matter at all?
Great Question! Perhaps I’ll make a video about that exact question. Very simply it’s because the momentum of mind-identification, fixation, emotional avoidance is very powerful. It takes some “undoing” to reverse these tendencies. :)
It is so helpful to read your responses to people's very useful comments on their experiences. I am very grateful for this and of course your videos. When I am doing walking meditation and experience mind flitting from one worry to the next I say a mantra, "No mind, no ego." It is very calming to me and my way of letting go. It brings me back to presence but then I think is this detachment and is this ok?
Sounds fine to me. Can recognize in that moment that detachment is simply one thought 💭
If this mantra drops you in, it is helpful - skillful - for you at this stage. The right thing to take you to great clarity arises! As the Diamond Sutra says, "...Buddhas and disciples are not enlightened by a set method of teachings, but by an internally intuitive process which is spontaneous and is part of their own inner nature.”.
@@jacquin8511 that’s right on the money!
It îs clear and helpful,,! ,,. In the rest I really do not know,
Hi Angelo, thank you for these videos. I've read your book and these are a great addition. 2 questions, in the book you mentioned there's often a physical reaction attached to awakening. Is this typically a completely new feeling or something more general that you've felt in the past but perhaps to a much stronger degree? And the 2nd question, is the first shift to awakening typically sudden or is it a gradual process (few seconds, minutes, hours, days etc)?
By physical reaction do you mean fear?
It tends to happen suddenly but the mind will put it in time and interpret in various ways 😂
@@SimplyAlwaysAwake If I remember correctly, you mentioned that there's first a fear of having to step over the edge of something (I assume a kind of ego death and change in self-identification/perception) and then a kind of awe or ecstasy which lasts for a few weeks/months. So I was wondering how long is typically that period from "stepping over" until realization and the awe/ecstasy...I assume it's quite short or instant?
Also, while doing self-inquiry, should one expect a sense of progression and slow, but constant change until reaching this "edge or extreme fear"? Or is it typically rather sudden, where one is doing a lot of self-inquiry, and little changes until suddenly it all does?
Angelo? :)
When you say Agency..what do you mean....?
The sense that you are apart from the flow of experience, managing it somehow by pushing and pulling on it. It is so apparent at first that it seems absurd to even try to imagine how it is without it. Indeed it isn't imaginable. However with non-dual and especially liberation its exquisitely clear that there's nothing like that. Now that might sound like it wouldn't be enjoyable but it's actually great fun lol :)))
read your book twice and look forward to waking up...
Orient to it and don't settle for anything less than a complete reset, and you can't miss! Love your dedication :) If you haven't you might want to check out Power of Now by Tolle, or Emptiness Dancing by Adyashanti, two of my favs.
So clear, Promis , simple ,all the efforts expectations , you are making my existence more easy , * Hova * *Am * in Hibrow , / * Ho * God , *va* in